PRIYANKA ARYA Vs. UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU AND ANOTHER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who was a candidate for the post of Assistant professor in the Department of Sanskrit in the Open Merit category, has filed the present petition praying for quashing of Advertisement Notice dated 30.11.2017, inviting applications for the post of Assistant Professor, Sanskrit, without finalizing the selection process initiated vide Advertisement Notice dated 18.04.2016, in which the petitioner was a candidate and was shown at serial No. 1 in the merit list. Further prayer has been made for setting aside of resolution dated 21.08.2017 passed by the University Syndicate, resolving that the recommendations of the selection committee dated 07.06.2017 for the post of Assistant professor in the Department of Sanskrit be not accepted and the post be re-advertised. Further prayer has been made for a direction to the respondents to issue appointment letter in favour of the petitioner.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that petitioner obtained Masters Degree in Sanskrit and in Vyakaranacharya. She had also cleared her UGC NET in Sanskrit. On 18.04.2016, applications were invited by the respondent-University for various posts including the post of Assistant professor in the Department of Sanskrit. The petitioner being fully eligible applied for the same. A tentative merit list was displayed and objections were invited from the candidates. Interviews were held on 07.06.2017. Considering her academic record and performance in the interview, the petitioner was quite hopeful of her selection. However, the result was not declared. It was noticed during screening of the documents that one of the candidates, namely, Dr. Babua Narayan Mishra, had not been given weightage of his PhD degree. On enquiry it was found that up to the last date fixed for submission of applications, degree had not been awarded to the aforesaid candidate. Hence, there was no error. It further transpired that the aforesaid candidate had been pursuing his PhD under the guidance of Prof. Manu Lata Sharma, who was one of the expert in the selection committee. The matter was placed before the University Syndicate in its 112th meeting held on 21.08.2017. The fact remains that the aforesaid candidate was not in the select list.

(3.) Vide resolution passed by the University Syndicate on 21.08.2017 it was decided that the recommendations for appointment of Assistant professor in the Department of Sanskrit dated 07.06.2017, be not accepted and post be advertised afresh. It was further resolved that the concerned expert be debarred for all future assignments and other Universities/Institutions be apprised of this fact through UGC. It was further resolved that in future a specific undertaking be also taken from all experts regarding their relation with any of the candidate appearing in the process of selection.