JUDGEMENT
-
(1.) Heard learned counsel for the parties.
Four writ petitions, viz., SBCWP No.3451/2001 - Fateh
Kishan Kapil Vs. JNV University, Jodhpur & Ors, SBCWP
No.3704/2001- Anil Pathak Vs. JNV University, Jodhpur &
Ors, SBCWP No.4314/2001 - Ms. Prabha Bhandari Vs.
State of Raj. & Ors, SBCWP No.4021/2002- Dr. AK Gupta
Vs. JNV University, Jodhpur and SBCWP No.3933/2001
were clubbed which is apparent from the order dated 20
th
Nov., 2001 passed in SBCWP No.4314/2001 and all the
above writ petitions were heard together by the single
bench of this Court. However, all above writ petitions were
decided by separate judgments delivered on different
dates.
In brief we would like to give details of the facts of
each petition in brief and final decisions given in above writ
petitions by the single bench of this Court on different dates
which is as under: -
1. SBCWP No.4314/2001 - Prabha Bhandari Vs. State
of Raj. & Ors., decided on 30.8.2002 (under
challenge in SAW No.632/2002) :
This writ petition was filed by petitioner Ms. Prabha
Bhandari. The above petitioner was aspirant for the
promotion from the post of Reader in department of Political
Science and Public Administration to the post of Professor
under popularly known Career Advancement Scheme and
the full name of above scheme is UGC Regulations 2002
Regarding Qualifications for Appointment and Career
Advancement of Teachers in Universities and Colleges - A
Scheme given by the University Grant Commission
(hereinafter referred to as 'the CAS') by purported exercise
of powers conferred by clause (e) and (g) of sub-section
(1) of Section 26 read with Section 14 of the University
Grant Commission Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as the
Act of 1956) superseding the regulations issued under
University Grant Commission letter No.F1-93/74(CPP) Part
(v) dated 13
th
June, 1983 and letter no.F1-11/87(CPP-II)
dated 19
th
Sept., 1991 and notification no.1-93/74(CP)
dated 19
th
Feb., 1984, 26
th
Nov., 1985 and No.F3-1/94(PS)
dated 24
th
Dec., 1998. The petitioner before filing this writ
petition took chance of her selection and promotion in the
said Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) and she also
appeared in the interview and before the results of selection
could have been declared, preferred this writ petition. The
petitioner by this writ petition sought to challenge the
process of selection on the grounds that the respondentuniversity did not follow the procedure like the respondentuniversity did start the selection process in the month of
Jan., 2001 without there being any orders of
implementation, without issuing eligibility list of all the
candidates due for promotion under the CAS nor issued
seniority list in accordance with the Rules, which was
mandatory requirement for initiation of the process for
giving promotion to the post concerned under CAS. The
petitioner specifically stated in the writ petition that the
respondent-university was bound to follow the mandatory
guidelines issued by the UGC and the regulations framed by
the UGC under Section 26 of the UGC Act were mandatory
in nature and, thereafter, alleged that the respondent
issued notification dated 7
th
Sept., 2001 after obtaining
approval from the Chancellor vide letter dated 27
th
August,
2001 making changes in the selection committee was illegal
as was violative of provisions contained in the Jai Narain
Vyas University, Jodhpur Act, 1962. The petitioner also
raised several other pleas which we need not to mention
here in detail because of the reason that after referring all
the pleas of the above petitioner in detail the learned Single
Judge allowed the writ petition of the petitioner and
selection for the post of Professor for Political Science
Department was quashed on the ground of bias as
respondent no.4 Prof. LS Rathore as Vice-Chancellor
participated in the selection committee wherein he should
not have participated because of the reason that one of the
candidate Dr. PS. Bhati was his close relative and the
selection committee could have proceeded even in the
absence of the respondent no.4. The learned Single Judge,
therefore, did not decide any of the issue raised by the
petitioner obviously for the reason that the plea of bias
alone was found sufficient to quash the selection process.
The above judgment delivered by the learned Single Judge
dated 20.8.2002 has been challenged by the respondent Jai
Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur by preferring SAW
No.632/2002.
2. SBCWP No.3451/2001- Fateh Kishan Kapil Vs. JNV
University, Jodhpur & Ors, decided on 20
th
Sept.,
2002 (under challenge in SAW No.663/2002
preferred by JNV University and in SAW
No.312/2006 preferred by the writ petitioner Fateh
Kishan Kapil:
The above petitioner Fateh Kishan Kapil's grievance
was that in spite of his eligibility for promotion to the post of
Professor he has not been called for interview under the
above CAS and four persons junior to him have been called
for interview. The petitioner found that Ordinance 317
making a change disadvantageous to the petitioner was not
approved by the SENATE of the respondent-university and,
therefore, amended Ordinance has not taken shape of law.
Even it has not been approved by the Chancellor and the
said change is void as well as has been carried without
jurisdiction. The petitioner therefore, in addition to
declaration that Ordinance 317 be declared void, in
alternative, prayed that it may be declared that note
appended to Ordinance 317 was not applicable to the
Readers who have completed 8 years. The petitioner,
therefore, sought relief of cancellation of selection process
and prayed that the interviews held be declared illegal and
direction be issued to the respondents to make a seniority
list after considering the notification dated 14.3.2001 and
declare the petitioner as senior to the persons named in the
writ petition. The relevant fact is that the petitioner in this
writ petition also claimed benefit under the CAS.
The learned Single Judge in this writ petition
no.3451/2001 of petitioner Fateh Kishan Kapil after taking
note of all the pleas taken by the petitioner and the
respondents while in the process of finalizing of the
judgment noticed that certain provisions of Rajasthan
Universities Teachers and Officers (Selection for
Appointment) Act, 1974 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act
of 1974') may have the bearing on the question in issue,
therefore, decided to give notice to the parties regarding
implication of Sections 11 and 12 of the Act of 1974. The
learned Single Judge was of the view that as per section 12
(2) of the Act of 1974 there may be possibility that only one
promotion was available under the Act of 1974 to the
teachers of the University governed by the Act of 1974. The
learned Single Judge then placed the matter for further
arguments of the counsel of both the parties so that the
implication of the provisions of the Act of 1974 can be
considered and it appears from the impugned judgment
itself that none of the parties submitted any more
arguments on this question of law posed by learned Single
Judge and, therefore, the learned Single Judge observed
that The implication of these provisions was studied. The
parties were asked also about the implication of the
amendment. Parties stated that they have understood the
implication of the amendment. It was also submitted that
nothing in addition to which has already been submitted, is
required to be submitted.
(2.) In the background of above facts, the learned Single
Judge proceeded to examine the provisions of the Act of
1974 and amendments made time to time in the Act of
1974 vis-a-vis the CAS and about the authority of U.G.C.
Under the U.G.C. Act, 1956. The learned Single Judge
thereafter, held that there is no power seen in clause (e)
and (g) of Section 26 of the Act of 1956 that authorizes the
UGC for providing any promotional avenue and create a
cadre in an University. Then the learned Single Judge held
that, that being the position, the act of respondents in
holding the selection for appointment under CAS cannot be
considered to be legal exercise and consequently, there is
no legal right in the petitioner which can be enforced and
ultimately held that no mandamus can be issued in favour
of the petitioner for participating in an illegal activity. The
learned Single Judge then held that court cannot issue
direction to any statutory authority to do something in
violation of statutory provisions after relying upon the
judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court delivered in the
case of Karnataka State Road Transport corporation Vs. Ashrafulla Khan & Ors, 2002 1 JT 113. In
view of the above declaration made in the impugned
judgment dated 20
th
Sept., 2002 , the learned Single Judge
held that it is not necessary to go into the other questions
raised by the petitioner which will be decided in other writ
petitions pending adjudication.
(3.) SBCWP NO.4021/2001- Dr. AK Gupta Vs. State &
Ors., decided on 18.12.2002 (under challenge in SAW
No.65/2003 - JNV University vs. Dr. AK Gupta and in
SAW No.153/2003 preferred by Dr. RP Tripathi:-
This writ petition was preferred by Dr. AK Gupta who
was Asstt. Professor in the subject of Physics as on 1
st
April,
1985 and was continuing as such and got the senior scale
after completion of 5 years and therefore, was aspirant for
the promotion under the CAS but amendment made in
Ordinance 317 vide notification dated 13
th
July, 2001 and 7
th
Sept., 2001 came in his way, therefore, he prayed for
quashing all those notifications with specific prayer that
those notifications be quashed and set aside being ultra
vires the regulations framed by the UGC in March, 2000,
obviously referred above as CAS. The petitioner further
prayed that respondents be directed to make provisions
under the CAS as per the procedure prescribed under the
Rules of 1990 and respondents may be directed to consider
the case of the petitioner for promotion under CAS from the
date he became eligible for such promotion as per the
procedure prescribed under the Rules of 1990 and grant him
promotion if he is found suitable. The petitioner also
challenged the change in composition of the selection
committee made by the Ordinance. In this case also, the
petitioner preferred writ petition to get the benefit under the
CAS.
The learned Single Judge specifically quoted the
reliefs claimed by the petitioner in the impugned judgment
dated 18.12.2002 and also specifically took note of the plea
of the petitioner that he is seeking order against the
respondent-University to implement the said scheme and
then, took note of the direction issued by the Ministry of
Human Resource and Development (Department of
Education) issuing necessary direction to the UGC to the
effect that UGC shall frame regulations for implementation
of the scheme.;