A ALICE Vs. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since a common issue is involved, all the Writ Petitions were heard together and they are disposed of by means of this Common Order.

(2.) These Writ Petitions relate to non - conferment of benefit of promotion to the Petitioners herein, who are holding the post of Readers, as Professors under the Career Advancement Scheme by the University Grants Commission.

(3.) The University Grants Commission, as per its scheme, has formulated the said Career Advancement Scheme so as to enable the persons, holding the post of Readers in various departments, who have No. further avenue of promotion, and therefore, there is a stagnation in promotion, to get the eligibility for consideration for further promotion and under the above said scheme, promotion is granted by way of Career Advancement Scheme after completion of eight years. By virtue of the above said Career Advancement Scheme formulated by the University Grants Commission, the substantive post held by the teachers as Readers will remain vacant and notional promotion is given to such persons as Professors who will get the benefit of post of Professors, both monetary and otherwise. The said scheme has been accepted by the Government and the Government has also issued G.O.Ms. No. 112, Higher Education (H1) Department, dated 24.03.1999. While incorporating the scheme of the University Grants Commission and while speaking about the Career Advancement Scheme, the Government of Tamil Nadu has clearly stated in the said Government Order that a Reader with a minimum of eight years of service will be eligible for consideration for appointment as a Professor under the scheme and the University Grants Commission, while considering the modification in the procedure for promotion of Reader to the post of Professor under the Career Advancement Scheme in University Departments, has clearly stated that promotion given to a Reader to that of a Professor under the scheme is purely personal in nature and in the letter dated 21.02.2002, the University Grants Commission has indicated the following criteria, which reads as follows: