PROF. ADYA PRASAD PANDEY Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present petition has been filed challenging the order dated 21.02.2020 whereby Petitioner has been dismissed from the post of ViceChancellor, Manipur University. A direction is also sought in the nature of mandamus to the Respondents to restore the appointment of the Petitioner to the said post to enable him to complete his remaining tenure, with consequential benefits, as well as for quashing the advertisement dated 16.03.2020, published for fresh appointment of Vice-Chancellor of the said University.

(2.) The narrative of facts in brief and necessary for adjudication of the present petition is that the Petitioner with Masters and Ph.D. Degrees in Economics and Masters in Business Administration, while working as Professor and Head, Department of Economics, Banaras Hindu University, was appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the Manipur University (hereinafter referred to as University ), on 25.10.2016, by the President of India, in his capacity as the Visitor of the University, for a period of 5 years. As per the Petitioner, he had several accomplishments and laurels to his credit and by his efforts and hard work had taken the University to the next level, both in terms of development and reputation, the details of which have been enumerated in the petition.

(3.) Petitioner avers that the Campus of the University was constantly under threat and interference by anti-social elements, including militants and some of the erstwhile Vice-Chancellors were compelled to resign from their jobs, as they did not fulfill the illegal demands of the militants. In fact an erstwhile Vice-Chancellor was abducted and kept captive for a few days. Agitations, strikes, lockdowns etc. initiated and instigated by certain persons associated with Manipur University Students Union (hereinafter referred to as the MUSU ), Manipur University Teachers Association (hereinafter referred to as the MUTA ) and Manipur University Staff Association (hereinafter referred to as the MUSA ) were a norm and routine in the Campus. Petitioner made strident efforts to streamline the functioning of the University, more particularly the Tender processes, which was disliked by the Unions and the anti-social elements, who had vested interest in the functioning of the University.