B SREEKANTH Vs. SRI KRISHNADEVARAYA UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) It cannot be gain said that the Universities would emerge as or continue to be centers of excellence and learning, if only they have, on their rolls, competent teachers. It was possible to select and appoint teachers with high academic accomplishments as long as the Universities were permitted to function with autonomy. Over the period, the Governments of the day have caused serious dent, into the autonomy of Universities and they were slowly reduced to the level of the units of Higher Education Department. Added to that, the Government practiced all its austerity only when it came to the question of allocation of funds to the Universities and appointment of teachers in them. The result is that mediocracy has gradually gained control over excellence.

(2.) It was after a long gap of about a decade, that the Government accorded permission to Sri Krishnadevaraya University (for short 'the University') to appoint 29 posts of Assistant Professors in various faculties. A notification was issued inviting applications on 26.02.2007. W.P. No. 7471 of 2007 etc., were filed, challenging the notification pointing out certain defects in the pattern of reservation. The writ petitions were allowed on 27.02.2008, setting aside the notification and leaving it open to the University to issue fresh notification, properly fixing the roaster points.

(3.) The University issued fresh notifications on 04.02.2009 and 05.02.2009 in accordance with the directions issued by this Court. W.P. No. 18681 of 2009 was filed challenging the notifications. This Court declined to grant any order of stay of further proceedings. Accordingly, the selection process was undertaken. The Petitioners in these two writ petitions were selected. The recommendations of the Selection Committee (for short 'the Committee') were sought to be placed before the Executive Council of the University, the appointing authority (for short 'the Council'). The hidden politics in the University administration manifested, leading to almost an open battle among the functionaries.