GURU PRASAD KHATANIAR Vs. GAUHATI UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr.M.K.Choudhury, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. M.Sharma, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. P. J. Phukan, learned Standing Counsel, Gauhati University.

(2.) The petitioner's prayer in this writ petition is to direct the respondent No.2 to allow the petitioner to engage a Legal practitioner as a Defence Assistant in the departmental proceeding which has been initiated against him, vide Memorandum of Charge dtd. 23/10/2024.

(3.) The petitioner's counsel submits that the Inquiry Officer appointed by the Disciplinary authority, which is the Executive Council of the Gauhati University headed by the Vice-Chancellor, is a Retd. Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer, having a law degree and as such, it was imperative that the petitioner should be allowed to engage a legal practitioner as a Defence Assistant, to have a level playing field.