KAILASH CHANDRA Vs. DIRECTOR NATIONAL INSTITUTE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN all the above three writ petitions almost identical questions of facts and law are involved as such they are disposed of by one single order.

(2.) THE National Institute of Ayurveda (hereinafter referred to as ('NIA') is an institution of Government of India established on February 7, 1976. The management and the affairs of the NIA are controlled by a governing body consisting of representatives and nominees of the Government of India. The President of the Governing Body is Minister of Health, Government of India. The Vice President is Minister of Ayurveda, Government of Rajasthan and most of the governing body are also government officials. The case of the petitioners thus is that the NIA is 'State' or other authority within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution of India.

(3.) THE case of the petitioners is that their services were terminated with immediate effect vide Annexure 5 dated January 31, 1986 without assigning any reason. The petitioners in these circumstances have challenged the order of termination as violative of principles of natural justice and also having contravened the principles enshrined under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.