S MURUGANAND Vs. VICE CHANCELLOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Both the writ petitions arise similar questions of law and based on similar facts and were heard together and as such are being disposed of by this common judgment.

(2.) Both the writ petitions have been filed to quash the appointment of the respondents 3 & 4 and direct the respondents 1 & 2 to redesignate the petitioners as Lecturers in the Department of Physics in the respondent University. The facts to the case briefly stated are as follows : - Petitioner in W.P.No.19834 of 2002 is a Post Graduate in M.Sc., (Physics) with M.Ed. and the petitioner in W.P.No.19835 of 2002 is a Post Graduate in M.Sc., (Applied Physics and Computer Electronics) with M.Phil. Petitioners have been appointed as Technicians (subsequently redesignated as Technical Officer) in the Department of Physics in Bharathiar University (hereinafter referred to as the University).

(3.) The University Grants Commission, in short UGC, has laid down certain norms for redesignation of staff. The conditions required as indicated in paragraph 9 of such guidelines. Para 9 inter alia provides that all redesignation of staff will be processed through a screening committee appointed by Vice-Chancellor. 9(b) provides that an incumbent in the cadre of Technical Officers can opt for redesignation to the corresponding teaching post in writing to the University authorities. The redesignation so done shall be subject to the conditions given in 9 (a)(i). Para 9(a)(i) be relevant is extracted in extenso :