SHIV SHANKAR DASH Vs. RAJENDRA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner has challenged the validity of the decision of the Faculty Development Committee of the Rajendra Agricultural University as contained in its minutes of the proceedings held on 24.12.93 restricting the number of Technical Supervisors for admission to the Masters' Courses to 5% of the strength (of Technical Supervisor). He also seeks mandamus to apply the reservation policy in the matter of admission of in -service candidates and to admit him to the Masters' Course for the Sessions 1995 -96. The relevant part of the decision is contained in paragraph 5 of the proceedings which has been marked Annexure -1 to the writ petition.

(2.) MR . A. B. Ojha, learned counsel for the petitioner, made detailed submissions regarding the scheme of legislation entitled The Bihar Agriculture University Act, 1987 (Act No. 8 of 1988) and the Statutes and Regulations of the Rajendra Agricultural University. But, in my opinion, having regard to the scope of controversy, which lies in a narrow compass, it is not necessary to go into all that.

(3.) THE controversy, as indicated above, relates to admission to Masters (M.Sc.) Courses in Rajendra Agricultural University. It is not in dispute that under Section 15 of the Act, the Academic Council is competent, subject to the provisions of the Act and Statutes, to regulate and prescribe all Courses of Study, determine curricula and exercise general control over other educational programme so as to maintain their standard. The Academic Council has also the power to make regulations consistent with the Act and Statutes relating to all academic matters falling within its purview, including admission of students, determination of their number, vide Section 15(3)(iv) of the Act. The impugned decision of the Faculty Development Committee has since been approved by the Academic Council vide notification dated 25.5.95.