MUTUM SHYAMKESHO SINGH Vs. STATE OF MANIPUR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. N Jotendro, learned senior counsel assisted by Syed Murtaza Ahmad, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner; Mr. Y Ashang, learned GA appearing for the respondent No. 1, Mr. R.K. Deepak, learned senior counsel assisted by Mrs. I. Bimola, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No. 2, Mr. N. Ibotombi, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. Th. Ningtamba, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No. 3 and Mr. S. Jasobanta, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No. 4.

(2.) The present writ petition has been filed with the prayer for quashing and setting aside the order dtd. 8/11/2021 issued by the Chancellor, Manipur Technical University (hereinafter referred to as "MTU", for short) appointing the respondent No. 3 as Vice-Chancellor along with the entire recruitment process on the ground that the respondent No. 3 is not qualified and eligible for the said post. The petitioner has also prayed for directing the official respondents to initiate the recruitment process by issuing fresh advertisement for filling the said post as per the applicable rules.

(3.) The brief facts of the present case are that an Advertisement dtd. 12/8/2021 was issued by the Registrar, MTU inviting applications from intending candidates having experience in technical education and/ or academic administration organisation for appointment to the post of Vice-Chancellor in MTU. The eligibility criteria as notified in the said advertisement is as prescribed under Sec. 7.3 of the UGC Regulations, 2018 dtd. 18/7/2018 on minimum qualifications for appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staffs in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2018 (hereinafter "UGC Regulations, 2018", for short). The qualifications/ eligibility criteria as prescribed under Sec. 7.3 of the UGC Regulations, 2018 are reproduced hereunder for ready reference:-