VASUDEVAN NAIR Vs. VICE CHANCELLOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner who is working as Scientific Officer, Division of Marine Chemistry, Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries under the second respondent University applied for the post of Reader in the Department of Environmental Sciences. The second respondent by Ext. P1 notification invited applications for various posts including the post of the Reader in the Department of Environmental Sciences. The qualifications prescribed for the post of Reader were as follows:

(2.) According to the petitioner, he is fully qualified to be considered for selection to the post of Reader in Environmental Sciences. He has produced Ext. P8 certificate issued by the Professor and Head of Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries to prove that he was teaching both theory and practical classes in Marine Chemistry for M.Sc. and M.Phil courses in Aquatic Biology and Fisheries from 30.6.1982. By Ext. P9, the petitioner wants to impress upon this Court that the post which he is holding has been associated with teaching/research work in the department. By Ext. P10, sanction was accorded by the first respondent for recognition as Research Guide of 11 persons including the petitioner. By Ext. P11, sanction was accorded by the first respondent to register one Smt. V.K Jeeja Kumari as a research Scholar and candidate for Phd. Degree in Aquatic Biology and Fisheries to work under the petitioner. Ext. P13 is a copy of the time table for teaching M.Sc. Previous degree course in the Department of Acquatic Biology and Fisheries. On the basis of these documents, the petitioner contends that he is having teaching experience and he is involved in teaching in the Department.

(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioner Sri. G.D. Panicker invited my attention to the definition of 'teacher' contained in S.2(27) of the Kerala University Act, 1974 which reads as follows: