RAKESH KUMAR KAPILA Vs. STATE OF H.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal has been preferred against the impugned judgment dtd. 24/12/2025, passed in CWP No. 15815 of 2025, whereby the writ petition preferred by the present appellant has been dismissed.

(2.) In the writ petition preferred by the appellant, a challenge has been laid to the office order dtd. 29/9/2025, Annexure P-4 therein (Page-77 of the paper book in appeal). Vide the said office order, the present respondent No. 4 had been given the additional charge of the post of Vice-Chancellor in the respondent No.2-University. The aforesaid additional charge had been given to respondent No. 4 in terms of Sec. 24 (5) of the Himachal Pradesh University of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as the "Act").

(3.) Admittedly, in the case at hand, from a perusal of the reply filed by respondent No. 2 i.e. University before the writ Court specifically para-5 thereof on merit, it is evident that the present appellant/writ petitioner is the senior most Professor in the respondent No.2/University. In the aforesaid backdrop, the contention primarily before the writ Court and in appeal is that additional charge of the Vice-Chancellor of the respondent No.2/University should have been given to the petitioner as he was the senior most Professor.