MANOJ MISRA,J. - (1.) The petitioners before this Court are research scholars enrolled in the Department of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology of the University of Allahabad (in short the University) and are separately carrying their research programme under research supervisors allotted by the University.
(2.) The research supervisors allotted for supervising the research programme of the petitioners were either retired, or about to retire, teachers of the University. However, by now, before the petitioners could complete their research work, the research supervisors initially allotted to the petitioners have all superannuated. When it came to the knowledge of the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Allahabad, that there were research scholars in the University who were pursuing their research programme under supervision of teachers who have already superannuated, a written request was made, vide circular letter dated 11.08.2016, to all Heads of the Departments, Faculty of Arts, University of Allahabad, to convene a meeting of the Doctoral Programme Committee of the Department for recommending change of supervisors to replace the supervisors who have superannuated. The said request was made by placing reliance on para 6.2 of University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil/Ph.D Degrees) Regulations, 2016 (in short UGC Regulations, 2016), dated 05.05.2016, where under only a full time regular teacher of the University could act as supervisor.
(3.) Aggrieved by the circular letter dated 11.08.2016, the present petition has been filed.;