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2014 Supreme(MP) 581
HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
S.K. Gangele and Sheel Nagu, JJ.
Rajendra Singh Yadav (Dr.) v. Union of India and others
Writ Petition No.3572 of 2014 (PIL) (Gwalior); Decided on 9.12.2014
M.P.S. Raghuvanshi with Ajay Bhargava for petitioner;
Vivek Khedkar, Assistant Solicitor General for respondents/Union of India;
Anil Sharma for respondent No.4.
Headnote:Constitution of India -- Art.226 -- M.P. Society Registration Act, 1973 -- S.7 -- University Grants Commission Act, 1956 -- Ss.3, 26(1)(f)(g) -- UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2010 -- Reg.6.2(iii) -- UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) (Amendments) Regulations, 2014 -- Cl.5.10 -- matter of regular appointment of Vice-Chancellor in LNIPE Gwlior -- regular Vice-Chancellor had submitted his resignation in 2012 -- since then no regular Vice-Chancellor was appointed -- appointment of officiating Vice-Chancellor -- challenged in this petition -- appointment of respondent No.5 is in accordance with law -- same cannot be illegal or arbitrary -- officiating person cannot be a substitute of a regular person -- petitioner has locus standi to file PIL -- impugned order quashed -- respondents are directed to complete the process of appointment of regular Vice-Chancellor -- up to the regular appointment Vice-Chancellor of respondent No.4 -- competent authority is at liberty to appoint or designate officiating Vice-Chancellor in accordance with law.
Held : It is also a fact that since October 2012, no regular Vice-Chancellor has been appointed in the LNIPE. This is contrary to the Regulations of 2010 as amended by Regulations of 2014. The officiating person cannot be a substitute of a regular person. Keeping the post vacant for such a long period near about two years is contrary to the object of the UGC Act and Regulations of 2010. It would adversely affect the standard of education. LNIPE was established with an object to provide excellence in imparting sports education. It is necessary for development of the country. Hence, a duty is cast on the -- respondents Union of India to appoint a regular Vice-Chancellor.
Looking to the nature of the case and facts of the case as discussed above in the order, the petitioner, who is a doctor, in our opinion, has locus standi to file the PIL and the present petition is maintainable.
Consequently, the petition is allowed with the following directions:
(i) Impugned order dated 16.6.2014 (Annexure P-1) is hereby quashed.
(ii) Respondents No.1,2 and 3 are directed to complete the process of appointment of regular Vice-Chancellor of respondent No.4 LNIPE within a period of three months from the date of receipt of copy of the order.
(iii) Up to the regular appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of respondent No.4 LNIPE, the competent authority is at liberty to appoint or designate the officiating Vice-Chancellor in accordance with law. (2010)3 SCC 402 and 1994 Supp.(3) SCC 516 followed.
Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-226 && e-iz- lkslkbVh jftLVªhdj.k vf/kfu;e] 1973 && /kkjk 7 && fo’ofo|ky; vuqnku vk;ksx vf/kfu;e] 1956 && /kkjk 3] 26¼1½¼p½¼N½ && fo’ofo|ky; vuqnku vk;ksx ¼le&fo’ofo|ky; :ih laLFkku½¼la’kks/ku½ fofu;eu] 2012 && [kaM5-10 && y{ehckbZ jk”Vªh; ‘kkjhfjd f’k{k.k laLFkku Xokfy;j esa dqyifr dh fu;fer fu;qfDr dk ekeyk && fu;fer dqyifr us viuk R;kxi= 2012 esa izLrqr dj fn;k && rc ls fu;fer dqyifr dh fu;qfDRk ugha dh xbZ && LFkkukIkUu dqyifr dh fu;qfDr && bl ;kfpdk esa vk{ksfir && izR;FkhZ Ø-5 dh fu;qfDr fof/k ds vuqlkj gS && tks fd voS/k ;k euekuh ugha gks ldrh&& LFkkukIkUu O;fDr fu;fer O;fDr dk vuqdYi ugh gks ldrk && ;kfpdkdrkZ tufgr ;kfpdk izLrqr djus dk vf/kdkj j[krk gS && vk{ksfir vkns’k vikLr fd;k x;k && fu;fer dqyifr dh fu;qfDr dh izfØ;k iwjh djus ds fy, izR;FkhZx.k dks funsf’kr fd;k x;k gS && dqyifr izR;FkhZ Ø-4 dh fu;fer fu;qfDr gksus rd && l{ke izkf/kdkjh fof/k ds vuqlkj LFkkukIkUu dqyifr dh fu;qfDr ;k inkfHkfgr djus ds fy, Lora= gSA
vfHkfu/kkZfjr % ;g Hkh ,d okLrfodrk gS vDVwcj 2012 ls y{ehckbZ jk”Vªh; ‘kkjhfjd f’k{k.k laLFkku esa dksb fu;fer dqyifr fu;qDr ugh fd;k x;k gS ;g fofu;e 2010 ds izfrdwy gS tSlk fd fofu;e 2014 ds }kjk la’kks/ku fd;k x;k gSA LFkkukIkUu O;fDr dk vuqdYi ugha gks ldrk gS brus yacs le; yxHkx nks o”kZ rd in fjDr j[kuk fo’ofo|ky; vuqnku vk;ksx rFkk fofu;e 2010 ds mn~ns’; ds izfrdwy gS ;g f’k{kk ds Lrj dks izfrdwyr% izHkkfor djsxkA y{ehckbZ jk”Vªh; ‘kkjhfjd f’k{k.k laLFkku~ dk mRd`”V [ksy f’k{kk iznku djus ds mn~ns’; ds lkFk LFkkfir fd;k x;k gS ;g ns’k ds fodkl ds fy, vko’;d gS vr% izR;FkhZ Hkkjr la?k ij fu;fer dqyifr dh fu;qfDr djus dk drZo; Mkyk tkrk gSA
ekeys dh izd`fr rFkk vkns’k esa mijksDr foosfpr fd, x, rF;ksa dks ns[krs gq,] ;kfpdkdrkZ tks ,d ,d Mk¡DVj gS] gekjh jk; esa tufgr ;kfpdk izLrqr djus ds fy, lquus dh vf/kdkj j[krk gS rFkk izLrqr ;kfpdk izpyu ;ksX; gSA ¼iSjk 18 ,oa 19
QyLo:i ;kfpdk fuEufyf[kr funsZ’kks ds lkFk eatwj dh tkrh gS %
¼1½ vk{ksfir ;kfpdk rkjh[k 16-6-2014 ¼mikca/k ih&1½ vikLr fd;k tkrk gSAa
¼2½ vkns’k dh izfr izkIr gksus dh rkjh[k ls rhu ekl ds chp fu;fer dqyifr izR;FkhZ Ø-4 y{ehckbZ jk”Vªh; ‘kkjhfjd f’k{k.k laLFkku dh fu;qfDr dh izfØ;k iw.kZ djus dk izR;FkhZ Ø-1] 2 rFkk 3 dks funs’k fn;k tkrk gSA
¼3½ dqyifr] izR;FkhZ Ø-4 y{ehckbZ jk”Vªh; ‘kkjhfjd f’k{k.k laLFkku dh fu;fer fu;qfDr gksus rd l{ke izkf/kdkjh fof/k ds vuqlkj LFkkukiUu dqyifr fu;qfDr ;k inkfHkfgr djus gsrq Lora= gSA ¼2010½3 ,l lh lh 402 rFkk 1994 LkIyh-¼3½ ,l lh lh 516 vuqlfjr
1. Heard.
2. In this PIL, the petitioner has challenged the order dated 16.6.2014 (Annexure P-1).
3. Lakshmibai College of Physical Education, Gwalior was established on 17.8.1957 by the Government of India. In 1964 the College was affiliated to Jiwaji University, Gwalior. In 1976, it was granted National status and re-named as “Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education”. Vide notification dated 21.9.1995, the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development granted “Deemed to be University” status to the College and again it was re-named as “Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior (LNIPE).” The LNIPE is governed by the Memorandum of Association registered with the Registrar, Firms and Society under the M.P. Societies Registration Act 1973. The University Grants Commission granted “Deemed to be University” status under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as the UGC Act). The University Grants Commission in exercise of powers conferred under clauses (f) and (g) of sub-section (1) of section 26 of the Act of 1956, also framed the regulations named as UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations of 2010”) The objects of the aforesaid regulations are as under :
“To regulate, in an orderly manner, the process of declaration of institutions as deemed to be universities; preventing institutions of dubious quality from being so declared; and, further to maintain quality of higher education imparted by institutions deemed to be universities consistent with the ideals of the concept of a university.”
4. Clause 6.2 of the Regulations of 2010 prescribes Vice-Chanceller, which reads as under :
“6.2 Vice-Chancellor. -- (i) The Vice-Chancellor shall be a whole time salaried officer of the institution deemed to be university and shall be appointed by the Chancellor from a panel of three names suggested by a Search-cum-Selection Committee. The composition of the Search-cum-Selection Committee shall be :
1. A nominee of the Chancellor
2. A nominee of Central Government; who shall be an eminent academic nominated by the Government in consultation with the UGC.
3. A nominee of the Board of Management.
(ii) The Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for a term of 5 years. He shall be eligible for a second term, provided that in no case shall he hold office beyond the age of 70 years. Provided that notwithstanding the expiry of the period of 5 years, he/she may continue in office for not more than six months or till his/her successor is appointed and the latter assumes office, whichever, is earlier.”
5. Clause 6.2(iii) of the Regulations of 2010 prescribes officiating Vice-Chancellor, which reads as under :
“(iii) In case of the office of the Vice-Chancellor becoming vacant due to death, resignation or otherwise and in case of his/her absence due to illness or any other cause, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, and in his/her absence, the Senior most Dean or, if there is no Dean, the senior most Professor shall perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor until a new Vice-Chancellor is appointed, or the existing Vice-Chancellor resumes duties, as the case may be.”
6. From the aforesaid clause, it is clear that in case of the office of the Vice-Chancellor becoming vacant under certain circumstances, the Pro Vice-Chancellor and his/her absence, the Senior most Dean or, if there is no Dean, the senior most Professor shall perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor.
7. It is an admitted fact that there is no post of Pro Vice-Chancellor and Senior Most Dean in the LNIPE Gwalior. The then Vice-Chancellor had submitted resignation in the year 2012 and since then no regular Vice-Chancellor has been appointed in the LNIPE. Vide order dated 16.6.2014 (Annexure P-1) Joint Secretary (Dev.), Department of Sports, Dr. G.S.G. Ayyangar, has been appointed as officiating Vice-Chancellor of the LNIPE. The aforesaid order is under challenge in this
