DR. BUDDHADEB BHATTACHARJEE Vs. GAUHATI UNIVERSITY AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. A.K. Purkayastha, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr L.P. Sharma, learned Standing Counsel, Gauhati University, for respondent Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Ms. R. Choudhury, learned Standing Counsel, Higher Education Department, Government of Assam, for respondent No. 4, Mr. A. Chamuah, learned Standing Counsel, University Grants Commission, for respondent No. 5 and Mr D K Roy, learned counsel for respondent No. 6.

(2.) By filing this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, petitioner seeks quashing of recommendation dated 30.08.2013 of a Six-Member-Committee, headed by the respondent No. 3, recommending that respondent No. 6 is senior to the petitioner in the cadre of Professor, Department of Physics, Gauhati University. Further prayer made is for a direction to the respondents to provide benefit of past service, i.e., service rendered by the petitioner before entering into the service of Gauhati University for the purpose of determining his seniority.

(3.) According to the petitioner, he initially joined as Lecturer in the Department of Physics, Karimganj College, on 22.12.1994. Thereafter, following his selection, he joined as Lecturer in the Physics Department, Gauhati University on 29.08.1996. According to the petitioner, as per University Grants Commission Regulations of 1998, he is entitled to get the benefit of past service counted for the purpose of career advancement. In the course of his service in the Gauhati University, petitioner was granted senior scale and, thereafter, selection grade scale of pay.