PARIKSHIT THAKUR Vs. UNIVERSITY GRANT COMMISSION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The aforesaid two appeals are filed by separate respondents challenging the order dated 09/12/2021 passed by the Single Bench in WPA 17905 of 21 constituting the External Expert Committee for re-evaluating the Academic Performance Indicators (API) of the candidates, their Ph.D. Credentials and other criteria which may be required for selection to the post of Assistant Professor in the International Relations Department of the Jadavpur University. In order to avoid the prolixity of repetition of facts both the appeals are taken up together for final disposal.

(2.) A preliminary point has been taken by the Jadavpur University that the order constituting an External Expert Committee is not a 'Judgment ' within the meaning of Clause 15 of the Letters Patent and, therefore, the instant appeals are not maintainable.

(3.) The extensive arguments were advanced on a preliminary issue at the initial hearing of the instant appeal but we invited the counsels appearing for the parties to make submissions on the merit of the impugned order in order to avoid the segregation of the points canvassed before us. Before we proceed to deal with the preliminary point first, it would be necessary to recapitulate the facts of the case and the pleadings made in the writ petition.