IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA

CWP Nos. 10665 of 2023 with

CWP No. 4016 of 2024

Reserved on: December 18, 2025 Date of Decision: January 1, 2026

1. CWP No. 10665 of 2023

Dr.Vijay Kumar Sharma …….Petitioner

Versus

Himachal Pradesh University ….Respondent

2. CWP No. 4016 of 2024

Randhir Singh Ranta and others …….Petitioners

Versus

Himachal Pradesh University ….Respondent

_____________________u_____________________________________

Coram:

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Sharma, Judge.

1

Whether approved for reporting? Yes.

For the Petitioners: Mr. Sanjeev Bhushan, Senior Advocate with

Mr. Sohail Khan, Advocate.

For the Respondent: Mr. Nitin Thakur, Advocate.

__________________________________________________________

Sandeep Sharma, Judge

H Since common questions of law and facts are involved in both the

petitions, same were tagged together vide order dated 28.3.2025 and are

being disposed of vide this common order.

CWP No. 10065 of 2023

2. Present petition has been filed by petitioner-Dr. Vijay Kumar Sharma,

seeking following main reliefs:

“(i) That an appropriate writ, order or directions may kindly be issued and the respondent University may kindly be directed to grant pay scale of

1Whether the reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment?

Stage-4 to the petitioner i.e. in pre revised pay scale of Rs.37400- 67000+Rs.9000 AGP on and with effect from 22.7.2022, the date the peti- tioner attained the eligibility with all consequential benefits of pay arrears, seniority etc. and the arrears be paid along interest @ 9% p.a.

(ii) That an appropriate writ, order or directions may kindly be issued and the respondent University may kindly be directed to re-designate the Project Officer as Assistant Professoor and thereafter grant stage-4 pay scale as Associate Professor with further directions to promote the petition- er as Professor on attaining the eligibility of the same as per UGC Regula-

tions and University Ordinance in the interest of law and justice.”

3. Petitioner herein, who was an MA in Sociology with 55% marks and had qualified State Eligibility Test, was initially appointed as a Project Offic- er in Indian Institute of Himalayan Studies (UGC Centre of Excellence) on 22.7.2010, pursuant to advertisement dated 20.6.2010 issued by the res-

gpondent-University for filling up three posts of Project Officers in aforesaid Institute. Petitioner’s services were regularized on 15.6.2016 with effect from 1.4.2016. Petitioner was granted upward movement/placement from Stage-I to Stage-2 with Rs.7,000/- AGP, then to Stage-3 with Rs.8000/- AGP). Now the petitioner is claiming Rs.9000 AGP in Stage-4 and promo- tion as Professor, inter alia praying for change of nomenclature of Project Officer to Assistant Professor.

CWP No. 4016 of 2024

4. This petition has been filed by three petitioners, namely Dr. Randhir Singh Rana, Dr. Pushpa Thakur and Dr. Baldev Singh, seeking following reliefs:

“(i) That an appropriate writ, order or dirHections may kindly be issue and the respondent University may kindly be directed to issue notification in furtherance of the recommendations made by the Board of Studies vide Annexures P-6 and P-7 and which stood rati- fied by the faculty ad approved by the vice Chancellor, immediately with further directions to cha nge the nomenclature of the petitioners to that of the Assistant professor in the interest of law and justice.

(ii) That an appropriate writ, order or directions may kindly be issued and the proceedings of the Executive Council meeting with respect oto on spot discussion No.2, being contrary to the actual dis-

cussion and approved, may very kindly be quashed and set aside.

(iii) That an appropriate writ, order or directions may kindly be issued and the and after granting nomenclature of the post of Assis- tant Professor to the petitioners, their cases may very kindly be con- sidered for further promotion to the post of Associate Professor as per UGC Regulations, from due dates, with all consequential bene- fits