ASHOKAN Vs. BALACHANDRAN KEEZHOTH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) TWO Writ Petitions came to be filed before the learned Single Judge by the party respondents herein challenging appointment of the present appellant Dr.Ashokan to the post of Registrar of Kannur University. As could be ascertained from the pleadings before the learned Single Judge, the appointing authority, none other than the Syndicate of the University, had not formulated any norm to be followed in the interview conducted by the selection committee, therefore, awarding of index marks in the interview at the instance of the Chairman of the Selection Committee, none other than the Vice Chancellor of the University, which came to be determined on the date of interview was erroneous, according to the writ petitioners. It was further contended, the present appellant and the fourth respondent herein were not even having the requisite qualification to the post of Registrar, therefore, placement of the said persons in the rank list at Exhibit P4 was per se illegal and deserves to be quashed. In W.P(C).No.22528 of 2011, the petitioner sought for the following reliefs:

(2.) THE undisputed facts are, the Kannur University had invited applications to the post of Registrar in the said University by notification at Exhibit P1 dated 7.2.2011 indicating the minimum qualification required and also certain terms and conditions. Last date for submitting the applications was 3.3.2011. Both the writ petitioners, 3rd and 4th respondents before the learned Single Judge and several others applied for the said post in the format notified by the University in question. According to the writ petitioners, the minimum qualification being First or Second Class Post Graduate Degree and 5 years teaching experience at University level and about 5 years of administrative experience in a responsible post including management of staff in a University or College or Education Department or similar Institution as the criterion, in the absence of such criterion possessed by the appellant and other respondents, there was no justification to consider their applications and further mistake was committed in selecting the appellant as the Registrar.

(3.) THE stand of the appellant herein was, Writ Petitions were not maintainable, as the writ petitioners were unsuccessful in the selection process. The appellant claims, he is having requisite qualification as prescribed in the notification. It is claimed that the selection committee conducted interviews in accordance with the relevant norms and there is no abuse of any process or illegal exercise of authority, as the selection process came to be approved by the Syndicate and the Writ Petitions are filed much later in August, 2011. The appellant/third respondent in WP(C). No.2528 of 2011 also pointed out the deficits in the requisite qualifications of the writ petitioners and in the absence of challenge against the same, Writ Petitions were not maintainable.