Anshu Verma v. Priya Sareen and Others

LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(1)

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o Reservedoon:oo10.09.2025.o Dateoofopronouncement:o22.09.2025o o

1.l LPAoNo.o278oofo2021o(O&M)o Dr.oAnshuoVermao o o o o o ….oAppellanto o o o o versuso Dr.oPriyaoSareenoandoothersoo o o o ….oRespondentso o

2.l LPAoNo.o279oofo2021o(O&M)o o Dr.oAnshuoVermao oo o o o o ….oAppellantoo versuso Dr.oPriyaoSareenoandoothersoo o o o .…oRespondentsooo o

3.l LPAoNo.o816oofo2021o(O&M)o PanjaboUniversityoandoanothero o o o ….oAppellantso o o o o versuso Dr.oPriyaoSareenoandoothersoo o o o ….oRespondentso o

4.l LPAoNo.o921oofo2021o(O&M)o PanjaboUniversityoandoanothero o o o ….oAppellantso o o o o versuso Dr.oPriyaoSareenoandoothersoo o o o ….oRespondentso o

5.l CWPoNo.o5043oofo2013o(O&M)o Dr.oAnshuoo o o o o o o ….oPetitioneroo o o o o versuso PanjaboUniversityoandoanotheroo o o o ….oRespondentso o

6.l COCPoNo.o2480oofo2021o(O&M)o Dr.oPriyaoSareenoo o o o o o ….oPetitioneroo o o o o versuso VikramoNayyaroandoothersoo o o o ….oRespondentso o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRAo o ooooooooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoROHIToKAPOORo o Presento Mr.oD.oS.oPatwalia,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo Ms.oRishuoBajaj,oAdvocate,ofor–oDr.oAnshuoVermao AppellantoinoLPAoNos.o278oando279oofo2021,o PetitioneroinoCWPoNo.o5043oofo2013oandofororespondento-ooooooo Dr.oAnshuoVermaoinoLPA-816-2021oando921-2021.o LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(2)

o o Mr.oSubhashoAhuja,oAdvocate,oforo–oPanjaboUniversityo AppellantoinoLPAoNos.o816oando921oofo2021,o RespondentoNos.o2oando3oinoLPAoNo.o278oando279oofo2021,o RespondentoNo.o1oinoCWPoNo.o5043oofo2013.oo o Mr.oAmaroVivekoAggarwal,oAdvocateoandoo Ms.oSanchioBindra,oAdvocate,oforo-oDr.oPriyaoSareeno PetitioneroinoCOCPoNo.o2480oofo2021,o RespondentoNo.o1oinoLPAoNos.o278,o279,o816oando921oofo2021.o o Mr.oArvindoGalav,oAdvocate,ofororespondentoNos.o5,o6oando8o inoLPAoNos.o278oando279oofo2021,oandofororespondentoNos.o2,o4oo ando6oinoLPAoNos.o816oando921oofo2021oandorespondentono.o2oinoo CWPoNo.o5043oofo2013.ooooo oo *****o o ASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRA,oJ.oo

1.o oo Theseofouroappealsoasowelloasotheoconnectedowritopetitionoando contemptopetitionohaveobeenoheardotogetheroandoareobeingodisposedoofobyoao compositeojudgment.oo

2.o o LPAoNos.o278oando279oofo2021oareofiledobyoDr.oAnshuoVermao assailingotheojudgmentoofolearnedoSingleoJudgeodatedo21.01.2021,opassedoino twooCiviloWritoPetitionoNos.o18211oando12216oofo2017ofiledobyoDr.oPriyao Sareen.o Henceforth,o ino thiso judgmento Dr.o Anshuo Vermao iso referredo too aso 'appellant',owhileoDr.oPriyaoSareenoisoreferredotooaso'petitioner'.oTwooothero appeals,o namelyo LPAo No.o 816o ando 921o ofo 2021o areo filedo byo theo Panjabo Universityo(hereinafterotoobeoreferredoaso'theoUniversity').oo

3.o o Theo petitionero hado assailedo orderso datedo 27.10.2016o ando

02.08.2017opassedobyotheoUniversityoasowelloasotheoselectionoproceedingso datedo25.11.2012orecommendingotheoappellantoforoappointmentotootheopostoofo Readero ino Repertoryo ino Homeopathico Medicalo Collegeo ando Hospital,o LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(3)

Chandigarho(hereinafterotoobeoreferredotooasotheocollege').oUndisputedofactso ofo thiso caseo areo thato Posto ofo Readero ino Repertoryo ino theo Collegeo waso advertisedoagainstowhichotheopetitioneroandotheoappellantobothoappliedoforo appointment.oAoScrutinyoCommitteeowasoconstitutedobyotheocollegeowhichoino itso meetingo heldo ono 21.02.2012o foundo petitionero ando theo appellant,o botho ineligibleoforotheosaidopost.oTheoGoverningoBodyoofotheocollege,ohowever,o tookoaodecisionotooinviteotheopetitioneroandotheoappellantoforointerview.oTheo Selectiono Committeeo ino itso proceedingso recordedo ono 25.11.2012o recommendedoappellantoforoappointmentotootheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertory.o Theo Subjecto Expert/o Universityo nominee,o however,o objectedo too theo recommendationo ofo theo Selectiono Committeeo aso ino theiro opinion,o theo appellantolackedorequisiteoqualificationoforotheopost.oTheorecommendationoofo theoSelectionoCommitteeorequiredoapprovaloofotheoUniversity.oHowever,oeveno beforeo anyo approvalo couldo beo accordedo too theo recommendationo ofo theo Selectiono Committeeo datedo 25.11.2012,o theo Secretaryo ofo theo College,o apparentlyoinoitsoindividualocapacity,oproceededotooissueoappointmentoletterotoo theo appellanto ono 18.02.2013o ono theo posto ofo Readero ino Repertory.o Theo appellantoalsoogaveoherojoiningoonotheosameodayoi.e.oono18.02.2013.oo

4.o o TheoVice-ChancelloroofotheoUniversityoconsideredotheoquestiono ofograntoofoapprovalotootheorecommendationoofotheoSelectionoCommitteeoforo appointmentoofoReadersoinovariousosubjectsoincludingoRepertory.oVideoitso communicationo datedo 19.02.2013,o theo collegeo waso informedo byo theo Universityo thato approvalo waso noto grantedo byo theo Vice-Chancelloro too theo appellant'soappointmentoonotheopostoReaderoinoRepertory.oThisodisapprovalo letterocameotoobeochallengedoinoCWPoNo.o5043oofo2013obyotheoappellant.oo LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(4)

5.o o ItotranspiresothatowhenotheoGoverningoBodyoofotheoCollegeowaso apprisedo abouto disapprovalo ofo appellant'so appointmento aso Readero ino Repertory,oitoproceededotoorecallotheoappointmentoofferedotootheoappellantoono

18.02.2013o aso Readero ino Repertory.o Theo appellanto beforeo filingo theo writo petitionofiledoaocivilosuitoimpugningotheodecisionoofotheoUniversity,obutowheno sheocouldonotogetoanyoinjunction,otheosuitowasowithdrawnoandolateroCWPoNo.o 5043oofo2013owasofiled.oo

6.o o TheoCollegeoisorunningoaohomeopathicocollegeoandohospitaloino ChandigarhoforoconductingotheoundergraduateocoursesoinoHomeopathy.oItoiso affiliatedo too Panjabo University.o Theo affairso ofo collegeo areo regulatedo byo CentraloCounciloofoHomeopathyoi.e.oRespondentoNo.5oinoLPAoNo.o278oofo 2021.oTheoCouncilowithotheopreviousosanctionoofotheoCentraloGovernmentohaso promulgatedo Regulationso calledo Homoeopathyo (Minimumo Standardso ofo Education)o Regulations,o 1983o (hereinaftero too beo referredo aso 'theo Regulations').o Theo creationo ofo posts;o prescriptiono ofo qualificationso foro appointment;oandootheroregulatoryomeasuresoinorespectoofotheocollegeoareo governedobyotheoRegulations.oo

7.o o TheoappellantowasoinitiallyoappointedoasoaoDemonstratoroinotheo Collegeo ono 06.08.2002.o Sheo waso latero appointedo aso ado hoco Lecturero ino Obstetricso ando Gynaecology,o whicho waso ao separateo ando alliedo subjecto ino Homeopathy.oSheowasoselectedoandoappointedoasoLectureroinoObstetricsoando Gynaecologyoono27.03.2009.oSheoalsoocompletedoheroM.D.oinoRepertoryooono

18.02.2010.oo

8.o o Theo petitioner,o ono theo othero hand,o hado obtainedo M.D.o ino RepertoryofromoBabaoFaridoUniversityoofoHealthoSciencesoinotheoyearo2007.o LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(5)

SheoappliedoforoappointmentotootheopostoofoLectureroinoRepertoryopursuantotoo theoadvertisementoissuedobyotheoCollegeoino2009.oTheoappellantohadoalsoo appliedo foro appointmento againsto theo sameo post.o Theo petitioner,o however,o cameotoobeoselectedoagainstotheosolitaryopostoofoLectureroinoRepertoryoinotheo College.o Theo appellanto couldo noto beo selectedo aso Lecturero ino Repertory.o However,otheoappellantocameotoobeoappointedoasoLectureroinoObstetricsoando Gynaecologyo ono 27.03.2009.o Accordinglyo substantiveo appointmento waso offeredotootheopetitioneroandotheoappellantoonotheopostoofoLectureroinotheo collegeoonotheosameodayoi.e.o27.03.2009.oWhileotheopetitionerowasoappointedo ino theo subjecto ofo Repertory,o theo appellanto waso appointedo ono theo posto ofo ObstetricsoandoGynaecology.oTillothisostage,othereoapparentlyowasonooconflicto betweenothem.oTheoconflictohasoarisenoonlyoinorespectoofoappointmentotootheo postoofoReaderoinoRepertory.oo

9.o o Regulationsoprescribedoforocreationoofopostsoinotheocollegeoaso alsoo theo qualifications,o etc.o ofo teachers.o Relevanto provisionso ofo theo Regulations,oinothisoregardoareoreproducedohereunder:-o "CENTRALoCOUNCILoOFoHOMEOPATHYo

1.l Shortotitleoandocommencement:o(i)oTheseoregulationsomayobeo calledo theo Homoeopathyo o (Minimumo Standardso ofo Education)oRegulations,o1983.o

2.l Definitions:o Ino theseo regulations,o unlesso theo contexto otherwiseorequires:-o xxxo o o xxxoo o o xxxo

(x)o"Teachingo Experience"o meanso teachingo experienceo ino theo subjectoconcernedoinoaoHomoeopathicoCollegeoandoincludeso teachingo experienceo ino theo subjectso ofo Medicine,o Surgery,o LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(6)

Obstetricso ando Gynaecology,o gainedo ino theo Medicalo Colleges,orecognizedobyoMedicaloCounciloofoIndia.o o o

8.oTeachingoStaff:-o

(1)o Ino Departmentso ofo Homoeopathico Pharmacy,o Materiao Medicao (botho Pureo ando Comparative),o Organono ofo MedicineoandoHomoeopathicoPhilosophy,oRepertoryoando PracticeoofoMedicine,otheoteachingostaffoatoallolevelsoshallo beoonoregularofull-timeobasis.o

(2)oo InoDepartmentsootherothanoreferredotooinosub-regulationo

(1),oeitherotheoProfessorooroReaderoshallobeofull-time,oando theoLecturersoshallobeoonofull-timeoregularobasis.o

(3)oo TheoHomoeopathicoCollegeoshallohaveoaofacultyoofoGuesto Professors,o foro subjectso sucho aso Dentistry,o Pediatrics,o Psychiatry,o Orthopedics,o Radiology,o Cardiology,o Dermatology,oGastroenterologyoandootherosubspecialtieso tooimpartoadequateoteachingoandotrainingotootheostudents.o ProvidedothatoGuestoProfessoroshallotakeoclinicalo and/oro teachingo classeso ato leasto foro twoo hourso ono twoo daysoinoaoweekoinotheocollegeooroinotheoattachedoHospital.oo

11.o Qualificationso etc.o ofo teachingo staff:-o Theo minimumo qualificationsoandoageoforoappointmentoofoteachingostaffo toovariousopostsoshallobeoinoaccordanceowithoAnnexureoE.o Providedo thato whereo theo serviceo conditionso ofo ao staffoofoaoHomoeopathicoCollegeohaveonotobeenoprovided,o theosameoshallobeoasoperotheoprevailingoserviceoconditionso inotheoaffiliatingoUniversity."oo

10.o o Annexure-Co too Regulationso provideso foro minimumo teachingo staffo foro degreeo course.o Oneo posto eacho ofo Professor;o Reader;o Lecturero iso createdoinotheosubjectoofoObstetricsoandoGynaecologyoasowelloasoRepertory.o Regularo full-timeo basiso facultyo ato allo levelso iso requiredo foro someo ofo theo LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(7)

subjectsoincludingoRepertoryobyovirtueoofoRegulationo8(1).ooThis,ohowever,oiso notorequiredoforoObstetricsoandoGynaecology.o

11.o o Annexure-Eo too theo Regulationso ino soo faro aso ito relateso too qualificationo foro theo posto ofo Readero ino Homoeopathico iso reproducedo aso under:-o "ANNEXUREoEo [seeoregulationo11]o o QUALIFICATIONSo FORo TEACHINGo STAFFo OFo HOMOEOPATHICoCOLLEGEo o

4.o READERoINoHOMOEOPATHICoSUBJECTS:?o A.o ESSENTIALoQUALIFICATIONSo Posto Graduateo qualificationo ino Homoeopathyo witho fouro yearso ofo teachingo experienceo aso Lecturero ino theo concernedo subjecto ino ao Homoeopathico Collegeo ono ao Degreeo ino HomoeopathyowithotenoyearsoofoexperienceoasoLectureroinotheo concernedosubjectooroDiplomaoinoHomoeopathyoofonotolessothano 4oyearsodurationowithofifteenoyearsoteachingoexperienceoinotheo subjecto concernedo ino ao Homoeopathico College.o Theo qualificationoshallobeotheooneoincludedoinoSecondoScheduleoofo HomoeopathyoCentraloCounciloAct,o1973.ooo B.oDESIRABLEoQUALIFICATIONS:o

(i)o ExperienceoasoSupervisor/oCo-supervisorooroGuide/oCo-GuideoforoPostoGraduateoProgrammeoinoHomoeopathy.o

(ii)o AdministrativeoexperienceooroResearchoexperienceoinoao researcho institutiono undero theo Departmento ofo ISMo &o Homoeopathyo ofo Stateo Governmento oro Centralo Governmentoinoaoresponsibleoposition.oo AGE:oNotomoreothano40oyearsoasoonotheolastodateooforeceiptoofo applicationo foro theo post.o Ageo iso relaxableo foro exceptionallyoqualifiedopersonsowithoprioroapprovaloofotheo Universityoconcerned."o LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(8)

12.o o Clauseo5ocontainsoqualificationoinoalliedomedicalosubjects.oTheo RegulationomakesooutodistinctionobetweenotheoHomoeopathicosubjectsoando alliedosubjects.oInoHomoeopathicosubjectsofull-timeofacultyoisorequiredoatoallo levels.o Ino alliedo medicalo subjects,o theo requiremento ofo full-timeo facultyo iso relaxedoinotermsoofoClauseo8(2)oofotheoRegulations.oItoisorelevantotoonoteothato RepertoryoisoaoHomoeopathicosubjectowhileoObstetricsoandoGynaecologyoiso alliedomedicalosubject.oo

13.o o WhenotheoScreeningoCommitteeoevaluatedotheocandidatureoofo theopetitioneroandotheoappellantoforoappointmentotootheopostoofoReaderoino Repertoryoono21.02.2012,oitofoundotheopetitioneroineligibleoasosheolackedo4o yearsoofoteachingoexperienceoasoLectureroinotheoconcernedosubject.oSoofaroaso theo appellanto iso concerned,o hero teachingo experienceo aso Lecturero waso noto foundoinotheoconcernedosubjectoi.e.oRepertory.oTheoclaimoofotheoappellantothato thoughosheowasosubstantivelyoappointedoasoLectureroinotheoObstetricsoando Gynaecology,o yeto sheo hado teachingo experienceo ofo Repertory,o aso sheo waso continuouslyotakingoclassesoinosuchosubject,owasonotoacceptedobyotheoSubjecto Expert/o Universityo Representative.o Theo Universityo alsoo conveyedo disapprovalo too theo recommendationo ofo theo Selectiono Committeeo datedo

25.11.2012,oinsofaroasotheoappellantowasorecommendedoforoappointmentotoo theopostoofoReaderoinoRepertory.oTheoappellantofiledoaocivilosuitoandoafterosheo wasodeniedoinjunction,owithdrewoit.oHerowritopetitionofiledoinotheoyearo2013o remainsopending.oo

14.o o Interestingly,owhileotheowritopetitionoofotheoappellantoremainedo pending,otheocollegeoconsideredotheoclaimoofotheoappellantoandotheopetitionero foropromotionotootheopostoofoReaderoino2014.oTheoSelectionoCommitteeoofotheo LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(9)

UniversityorecommendedopromotionoofoappellantotootheopostoofoReaderoino Obstetricso ando Gynaecology,o whileo theo petitionero waso recommendedo foro promotionotootheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertory.oPromotionoofoappellantoando theopetitioner,oaccordingly,owasoapprovedobyotheoUniversityoandotheyojoinedo aso Readero ino theiro respectiveo subjects.o Theo promotiono ofo petitionero ando appellanto waso alsoo approvedo byo theo University.o Theo petitionero waso alsoo designatedoasoHeadoofotheoDepartmentoono23.06.2015.oTheoappellantowaso alsoo madeo Heado ofo theo Departmento ofo Obstetricso ando Gynaecologyo ono

23.06.2015.o Theo Universityo alsoo issuedo ao formalo ordero ono 22.03.2016o approvingotheopromotionoofopetitioneroonotheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertory.oo TheopromotionoofopetitionerotootheosolitaryopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryohaso attainedofinality.oo

15.o o TheoappellantoalthoughowasopromotedotootheopostoofoReaderoino Obstetricso ando Gynaecologyo ando waso alsoo workingo aso itso Heado ofo theo Department,oyetosheosubmittedoaorepresentationoono07.12.2015otootheoGeneralo BodyoofotheoCollege,ore-agitatingoheroclaimoforoappointmentotootheopostoofo Readero ino Repertory,o pursuanto too theo recommendationo ofo theo Selectiono Committeeodatedo25.11.2012.oCopyoofotheorepresentationowasoalsoomarkedotoo theoUniversityoandotheoVisitor,owhoohappenedotoobeotheoVice-President.oTheo representationowasomarkedobyotheoofficeoofotheoVisitorotootheoUniversity.oo

16.o o TheoVice-ChancelloroofotheoUniversityoono27.10.2016ograntedo approvalo too selectiono ofo appellanto aso Readero ofo Repertory,o byo virtuallyo reviewingo theo earliero disapprovalo too sucho recommendationo video communicationo datedo 19.02.2013.o Theo appellanto ino hero representationo claimedo thato sinceo Principalo ofo theo collegeo waso permittingo variouso othero LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(10)

personsotoocontinueoonotheopostoofoReaderobyoframingopromotionopolicy,o whichowasoillegal,otherefore,osheoshouldobeoallowedotoocontinueoasoReaderoino Repertory.oo

17.o o Petitioneroonocomingotooknowoofotheoorderodatedo27.10.2016o submittedo ao representationo againsto theo decisiono ofo theo Universityo datedo

27.10.2016oonovariousogrounds,oincludingotheogroundothatoasotheoappellanto waso alreadyo workingo aso Readero ino theo Departmento ofo Obstetricso ando Gynaecologyosinceo03.02.2014,oandowasoalsooitsoHeadoofotheoDepartment,o thereowasonoooccasionotooappointoheroasoReaderoinoRepertory.oItowasoalsoo submittedothatotheoappellantolackedoqualificationoatotheotimeoofoappointmento tootheopostoofoReader.oTheoUniversity,ohowever,odidonotoacceptotheopleaoofotheo petitionero andovideo itso communicationodatedo02.08.2017odirectedothato theo joiningo ofo theo appellanto aso Readero ino theo Repertoryo beo consideredo aso

18.02.2013.o Ito iso ino thiso contexto thato theo ordero ofo theo Universityo datedo

27.10.2016oando02.08.2017ocameotoobeochallengedobyotheopetitioner.oo

18.o o TheolearnedoSingleoJudgeobyohisoreasonedojudgmentohasoallowedo theotwoowritopetitionsofiledobyotheopetitioneroholdingothatotheoappellantocouldo notohaveobeenoappointedoasoReaderoinoRepertoryoforotheofollowingoreasons:-o

(i)l Theo appellanto waso noto eligibleo foro appointmento aso sheo lackedorequisiteoteachingoexperienceoforotheopost;o

(ii)l Theo Subjecto Expert/o Universityo Representativeo hado agreedowithotheodecisionoofotheoScrutinyoCommitteeothato appellantowasonotopossessedoofotheorequisiteoqualificationo forotheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertory;o LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(11)

(iii)l TheoUniversityohadoalreadyodisapprovedotheoclaimoofotheo appellanto foro appointmento ono theo posto ofo Readero ino Repertoryo video ordero datedo 19.02.2013o whicho hado attainedofinality,oandoitocouldonotohaveobeenoreviewedobyo theoViceoChancelloroinotheopeculiarofactsoofotheocase;o

(iv)l Appointmentoonoaccountoofoherosubsequentopromotionotoo theo posto ofo Readero ino Obeso ando Gynaeo aso alsoo hero continuanceo aso Heado ofo theo Departmento ino ito hado eschewedotoorejectionoofoheroclaimoonotheopostoofoReadero inoRepertory;o

(v)l Theo Universityo actedo arbitrarilyo ino revivingo theo appellant'soclaimoforopromotionotootheopostoofoReaderoino Repertoryoafterosucholongolapseoofotime,oparticularlyowheno variousoeventsohadointervened,owhichovirtuallyonullifiedo theoclaimoofotheoappellant.oo

19.o o AssailingotheoorderoofolearnedoSingleoJudge,oShrioD.oS.oPatwalia,o learnedoseniorocounselocontendsoasounder:-o

(a)loTheo appellanto possessedo theo eligibilityo foro theo posto ofo ReaderoinoRepertoryoasosheohadoaoPostoGraduateoDegreeoino Repertoryoandoalsooworkedoforo4oyearsoasoLectureroandothato theoRegulationsoneverocontemplatedoteachingoexperienceoofo4o yearso aftero acquiringo Posto Graduateo Degreeo ino Repertoryo and,o therefore,o theo veryo premiseoonowhicho theo appellant'so claimo waso earliero discardedo waso misplaced.o Heo placeso relianceouponotheojudgmentsoofoHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourto LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(12)

ino Dr.o Asimo Kumaro Boseo vso Uniono ofo Indiao ando otherso 1983o (1)o SCCo 345;o Anilo Kumaro Guptao vso Municipalo CorporationoofoDelhio2000o(1)oSCCo128;oA.K.oRaghumanio SinghoandoothersovsoGopaloChandraoNathoandootherso2000o

(4)oSCCo30;oTejinderoKauroandoothersovsoLadyoConstableo RajoKumarioandootherso2009o(1)oSCCo177;oRajeshoKumaro ando others,o etc.o vso Stateo ofo Biharo ando others,o etc.o Newo Delhio2013o(4)oSCCo690;oVikasoPratapoSinghoandoothersovso StateoofoChhattisgarhoandootherso2013o(14)oSCCo494;oDr.o M.oDakshayaniovsoStateoofoKarnatakaoandoanothero2018o

(16)oSCCo172;oSpecialoLeaveotooAppealo(C)oNoo(s).o1555-1556oofo2022o–oShivkumaroShrinarayanoPrajapatiovsoUniono ofoIndiaoandoanother,odecidedoono04.05.2023;oDr.oSharmado vso Stateo ofo Keralao ando otherso 2025o (1)o SLRo 387;o ando DivisionoBenchojudgmentoofothisoCourtoinoNeetuoSharmaovso StateoofoPunjaboandootherso2024o(1)oLawoHeraldo755.oo

(b)lTheo Vice-Chancelloro ono 19.02.2013o hado noto rejectedo theo recommendationo ofo theo Selectiono Committeeo datedo

25.11.2012oandohadoonlyosuspended/odeferredosuchoclaim;o

(c)lSinceo recommendationo ofo theo Selectiono Committeeo waso neverorejectedoearlierobyotheoVice-Chancelloroono19.02.2013,o therefore,otheoapprovalograntedolaterotootheorecommendationo ofotheoSelectionoCommitteeoono27.10.2016owasonotoanoactoofo review.oAlternatively,oitoisourgedothatotheoVice-Chancelloro LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(13)

sinceoactedoinotheoadministrativeocapacity,oasosuchoheohadotheo powerotooreview;o

(d)lTheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohasofailedotooappreciateotheofactsoino itsocorrectoperspectiveoandohasoexceededohisojurisdictionoino allowingotheowritsofiledobyotheopetitioner;o

(e)lSinceotheopetitionerowasodeclaredoineligibleobyotheoScreeningo Committeeoandohadonotochallengedoit,otherefore,osheohasonoo locusotoomaintainotheowritopetition.o

20.o o Mr.oAhuja,oappearingoforotheoUniversity,ohasoadoptedotheostando ofo Shrio Patwaliao too contendo thato judgmento ofo theo learnedo Singleo Judgeo requiresointerferenceoinotheoLettersoPatentoAppeal.oo

21.o o Mr.o Amaro Vivek,o Advocate,o appearingo foro theo petitionero opposeso theo argumentso advancedo ono behalfo ofo theo appellanto ando theo Universityo ando contendso thato neithero theo appellanto waso eligibleo foro appointmentotootheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryonorosheocouldohaveobeeno appointedo aso sucho byo theo University.o Heo haso highlightedo theo subsequento developmentsoinotheoformoofopromotionoofoappellantoandopetitioneroinotheiro respectiveodepartmentsotoocontendothatotheoissueowithoregardotooappointmento ofo appellanto aso Readero ino Repertoryo stoodo rejectedo ando ino viewo ofo theo subsequentodevelopments,oitowasonotoopenoforotheoUniversityotooreviveotheo claimoofotheoappellant.oHeosubmitsothatotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohasorightlyo interferedoinotheomatteroand,otherefore,otheojudgmentoofolearnedoSingleoJudgeo meritsonoointerference.oo

22.o o Theoquestionoforoconsiderationoinotheseoappealsoisowithoregardotoo legalityo ofo theo twoo orderso passedo byo theo Universityo ono 27.10.2016o ando LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(14)

02.08.2017.oByotheseotwooorders,oclaimoofoappellantoforoappointmentotootheo postoofoReaderoinoRepertoryohasobeenoacceptedoandoherodateoofojoiningoisoheldo toobeo18.02.2013?oThisoisopursuantotootheorecommendationoofoselectionodatedo

25.11.2012.oByotheoorderodatedo27.10.2016,otheoViceoChancellorohasograntedo approvalotooselectionoofoappellantoasoReaderoinoRepertory.oo

23.o o Legalityo ofo theo recommendationo ofo theo Selectiono Committeeo datedo 25.11.2012o iso theo primaryo boneo ofo contentiono betweeno theo parties.o Questiono alsoo ariseso aso too whethero theo recommendationso ofo Selectiono Committeeodatedo25.11.2012ocouldobeoacceptedobyotheoViceoChancelloroono

27.10.2016oinotheolightoofotheofollowingofacts:-o

(i)l Ono 19.02.2013,o theo appellanto waso informedo byo theo Universityo thato hero selectiono ono theo posto ofo Readero ino RepertoryohasonotobeenoacceptedobyotheoViceoChancellor.o Thougho ao writo petitiono filedo againsto sucho ordero waso pendingo buto noo interimo directiono waso granted.o Ito will,o therefore,o haveo too beo seeno aso too whethero theo Viceo Chancelloro couldo haveo reviewedo theo earliero decisiono takenoono19.02.2013ovideoorderodatedo27.10.2016oaftero nearlyo3½oyears?o

(ii)l ItowilloalsoobeoseenoasotoowhetheroanyopostoofoReaderoino Repertoryo waso availableo ono 27.10.2016,o againsto whicho theoappointmentoofotheoappellantoasoReaderoinoRepertoryo couldobeoapproved?o

24.o o Undisputedly,othereoisoonlyooneopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryoando Obstetrics/o Gynaecologyo eacho inotheo college.oThoughorecommendationo ino LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(15)

favouroofoappellantoforoappointmentoasoReaderoinoRepertoryowasomadeobyotheo SelectionoCommitteeoono25.11.2012obutoitowasonotoapprovedobyotheoViceo ChancelloroofotheoUniversity.oTheoappellantowasoinformedoofosuchodecisiono ono19.02.2013.oItowasoinothisocontextothatotheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryo wasotreatedotoobeovacant.oOrdersowereopassedobyotheocollegeoono01.02.2014oino favouro ofo theo appellanto appointingo hero aso Readero ino Obstetricso ando Gynaecologyo ono theo basiso ofo hero applicationo datedo 16.12.2013o ando theo consequentialointerviewoheldoono31.01.2014.oAppointmentoletteroissuedotootheo appellantoonotheopostoofoReaderoinoObstetricsoandoGynaecologyoisoAnnexure-A6oinoCMoNo.o8038-LPAoofo2024oinoLPAoNo.o278oofo2021.oTheoappellanto alsoojoinedopursuantotooheropromotionoorderodatedo01.04.2014oono03.02.2014o videoAnnexureoA7oinoCMoNo.o8038-LPAoofo2024oinoLPAoNo.o278oofo2021.o ThoughotheojoiningoofoappellantoasoReaderoinoObstetricsoandoGynaecologyo pursuantotooorderodatedo01.02.2014owasosubjectotootheooutcomeoofoCWPoNo.o 5043oofo2013,obutoasonooordersowereopassedoinoherofavouroinotheosaidowrito petition,oasosuchotheojoiningoasoReaderoinoObstetricsoandoGynaecologyocouldo noto beo effaced.o Similarly,o theo petitionero waso promotedo aso Readero ino Repertoryoono01.02.2014.oSheoalsoojoinedopursuantotoosuchoorder.oo

25.o o Petitionero ando appellant,o botho wereo declaredo Heado ofo theo Departmento ofo Repertoryo&oObstetricso ando Gynaecology,o respectivelyo ono

23.06.2015.o Promotiono ofo appellanto aso Readero ino theo Departmento ofo Obstetricso ando Gynaecologyo cameo too beo approvedo byo theo Universityo ando consequentialo orderso ofo confirmationo wereo alsoo passedo ono 03.02.2016.o Similarly,o promotiono ofo petitionero aso Readero ino Repertoryo waso alsoo confirmedowithograntoofoapprovalotoosuchopromotionobyotheoUniversityoono LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(16)

22.03.2016.oAsoaoresultoofoit,otheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryo&oObstetricso ando Gynaecologyo stoodo filledo witho promotiono grantedo too petitionero ando appellant.oNoovacancyoonotheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryooroObstetricsoando Gynaecologyoremainedovacantoaftero2014.o

26.o o TheoUniversityoono27.10.2016ocommunicatedograntoofoapprovalo tootheoappointmentoofoappellantoonotheopostoofoReaderoonotheostrengthoofotheo recommendationsoofotheoSelectionoCommitteeodatedo25.11.2012.oWeofailotoo understando aso too howo sucho recommendationo ono theo posto ofo Readero ino RepertoryocouldobeoacceptedobyotheoViceoChancelloroinoOctobero2016owheno theopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryostoodofilledowithotheopromotionoofopetitionero ono ito ino February,o 2014o ando itso confirmationo ino March,o 2016.o Weo haveo alreadyonoticedothatotheopromotionoofopetitioneroonotheopostoofoReaderoino Repertoryohadoattainedofinality.oNoochallengeowasolaidotoosuchopromotionobyo theoappellant.oAccordingly,owhenotheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryoitselfowaso noto vacanto ando availableo ino 2016,o theo Viceo Chancelloro oro theo Universityo couldonotohaveograntedoapprovalotootheorecommendationoofotheoSelectiono Committeeomadeoono25.11.2012.oo

27.o o Eveno otherwise,o theo recommendationo ofo theo Selectiono Committeeowasotooremainovalidoforoaoperiodoofosixomonths.oThisoperiodoofosixo monthsoexpiredoinotheoyearo2013oitself.oTheoproceedingsoofotheoSelectiono Committeeo datedo 25.11.2012o containo ao specifico stipulationo thato itso recommendationoofotheopanel,oinotheoorderoofomeritoshalloremainovalidoforoao periodo ofo sixo monthso onlyo fromo theo dateo ofo meetingo ofo theo Selectiono Committee.o LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(17)

28.o o TheoViceoChancellor/oUniversity,othus,ocouldonotohaveoapprovedo theorecommendationoofoSelectionoCommitteeodatedo25.11.2012.oTherefore,o onotheodateowhenotheoUniversityograntedoapprovalotootheorecommendationoofo theo Selectiono Committeeo foro appointmento ono theo posto ofo Readero ino Repertory,oneitherothereoexistedoanyovacantopostoforotheoReaderoinoRepertoryo ino theo Collegeo noro anyo existingo selecto listo waso availableo whicho couldo beo acceptedobyotheoViceoChancellor/oUniversity.oOnobothotheseogrounds,owe,o therefore,ofindothatotheoUniversityoerredoinoapprovingotheoappointmentoofotheo appellantoonotheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertory.oLearnedoSingleoJudgeoinosucho circumstanceso haso noto erredo ino quashingo ordero datedo 27.10.2016.o Theo subsequentoorderoofotheoUniversityodatedo02.08.2017oholdingotheojoiningoofo theoappellantoonotheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryowithoeffectofromo18.02.2013o alsoo cannoto beo sustained.o Ito iso soo aso ono 18.02.2013o neithero theo recommendationo ofo Selectiono Committeeo waso approvedo byo theo Viceo Chancelloronoroanyoappointmentoletterotooherowasoissuedobyotheocompetento body.oo

29.o o Collegeoisobeingorunoinoaccordanceowithoitsobyelaws.oFunctionso ofodifferentoauthoritiesoofotheocollegeoareoalsoospecifiedotherein.oClauseoIIIo providesoforotheofunctionsoofotheoGoverningoBody.oItoincludesosub-clauseo(iv)o asoperowhichotheopowerotoocreateopostsoofovariousocategorieso(teachingoando non-teaching)oandotoomakeoappointmentsothereonoinotheoCollegeoandoHospitalo vestsoinoGoverningoBody.ooItois,otherefore,oquiteoclearothatopoweroofomakingo appointmentsoofoTeachingoStaffoinotheocollegeoisovestedoinotheoGoverningo Body.oo LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(18)

30.o o PowersoofotheoSecretaryoareoalsoospecifiedoinotheobye-lawsoofotheo college.o Clauseo Vo (c)o provideso foro functionso ofo theo officeo bearers.o Theo Secretaryoisoauthorizedotooissueoordersoofoappointmentoasoauthorizeobyotheo GoverningoBody.oClauseoIIIo(iv)oasowelloasoVo(c)(iii)oofotheobye-lawsoareo reproducedoasounder:-o "GoverningoBodyo III.oo FUNCTIONS:o TheoGoverningoBodyoshallobeotheoManagingoCommitteeo ofotheoHomoepathicoMedicaloCollegeo&oHospital.oItoshallo performo theo followingo functionso complyingo witho theo provisionsocontainedoinotheoPanjaboUniversityoCalendaro ando Centralo Councilo ofo Homoeopathyo (Minimumo Standardo ofo Education)o Regulationso 1983o ando aso amendedofromotimeotootime.o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o xxxo

(iv)o Toocreateopostsoofovariousocategorieso(Teachingo&oNon-teaching)o ando too makeo appointmentso thereono ino theo CollegeoandoHospital.o o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o xxxo c)o Secretary:o o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o xxxo o

(iii)o Tooissueoordersoofoappointment,osuspension,otermination,o dismissalo oro anyo othero disciplinaryo actiono againsto anyo memberoofoTeachingo&oNon-teachingostaffoofotheoCollegeo andoHospitaloasoauthorizedobyotheoGoverningoBody."oo o o

31.o o Fromotheotenoroofotheobye-laws,oitoisoclearothatotheocompetento bodyotooappointoaoteachingostaffoinotheocollegeoisotheoGoverningoBodyoando onlyo pursuanto too itso decisiono theo Secretaryo cano issueo appointmento letter.o Thereo iso nothingo ono recordo too indicateo thato theo recommendationo ofo theo LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(19)

Selectiono Committeeo datedo 25.11.2012o waso approvedo byo theo Governingo Bodyo and,o therefore,o theo Secretary,o ono hiso own,o couldo noto haveo issuedo appointmentoletterotootheoappellantoono18.02.2013.oInotheoabsenceoofoanyo valido appointmento lettero issuedo too appellanto ono 18.02.2013,o theo appellanto couldonotohaveojoinedoasosuchoonotheopostoofoReader.oo

32.o o Thereoisoanotheroaspectowhichohasotoobeokeptoinomindowhileo adjudicatingo theo legalityo ofo theo subsequento ordero ofo theo University.o Theo appointmentotootheocollegeoaffiliatedotootheoPanjaboUniversityoisogovernedobyo theoprovisionsoofoChapteroVIIIo(E)oofotheoStatutesoofotheoUniversityoprovidingo foro conditionso ofo serviceo ando conducto ofo teacherso ino affiliatedo colleges.o Clauseo8othereofospecificallyoprovidesothatoeveryoappointmentoofoteachingo staffo shallo requireo approvalo ofo theo Viceo Chancellor.o Clauseo 8o ofo theo conditionsoforograntoofoaffiliationotoocollegesoreadsoasounder:-o "8.o Everyoappointmentoofotheoteachingostaffoshallorequireotheo approvaloofotheoVice-Chancellor."o

33.o o Ono 18.02.2013,o thereo existedo noo approvalo ofo theo Viceo Chancelloro too theo allegedo appointmento ofo theo appellant,o therefore,o theo questiono ofo joiningo otherwiseo ono theo posto ofo Readero ino Repertoryo ono

18.02.2013owouldobeoimpermissibleoinolaw.oo

34.o o WhenoweoanalyzeotheolegalityoofotheoorderoofotheoUniversityoino lightoofotheoadmittedofactsoofotheocase,oweofindothatoneitherothereoexistedoanyo vacanto posto ofo Readero ino Repertoryo noro thereo existedo anyo subsistingo recommendationsoofoSelectionoCommitteeoinofavouroofotheoappellantoand,o therefore,otheoViceoChancellorohadonoojurisdictionotoopassoanoorderoinofavouro ofotheoappellantoono27.10.2016.oSubsequentoorderodatedo02.08.2017oallowingo LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(20)

theojoiningoofoappellantofromo18.02.2013oisoalsooheldoimpermissibleoforotheo reasonso narratedo aso above.o Ino sucho circumstances,o thougho foro somewhato distinctoreasons,oweoholdothatotheoorderoofoUniversityodatedo27.10.2016oando

02.08.2017ocouldonotohaveobeenosustained.oTheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohas,o therefore,orightlyoquashedotheseoorders.o

35.o o OnceoweofindothatotheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryostoodofilledo withotheopromotionoofopetitioneroandoheropromotionowasoalsooapprovedobyotheo ViceoChancelloroofotheoUniversity,owhichowasocommunicatedobyotheoDeputyo Registraro ofo theo Universityo video ordero datedo 22.03.2016o containedo ino AnnexureoP-16oinoLPAoNo.o279oofo2021,ootheopostoofoReaderostoodooccupied.o NoovacancyoonotheopostoofoReaderoexistedoagainstowhichotheoappellantocouldo beoappointed.oo

36.o o Theojudgmentsoreliedouponobyolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoono thisoaspect,otherefore,oneedonotobeoadvertedoto.oo

37.o o Inoviewoofoourodeliberationsoandodiscussionsoasoabove,oweoareoofo theo viewo thato theo legalityo ofo recommendationso madeo byo theo Selectiono Committeeodatedo25.11.2012oneedonotobeogoneointooanyofurther,oasoweofindo thatoitsovalidityohasoalreadyoexpiredoinotheoyearo2013oitselfoandosinceotheoposto ofoReaderoinoRepertoryootherwiseostoodofilledowithopromotionoofopetitioner,o theoSelectionoCommittee'sorecommendationocouldonotohaveobeenoapprovedo byo theo Vice-Chancellor.o Ino sucho viewo ofo theo matter,o weo refraino fromo consideringo theo submissionso raisedo byo eithero sideo ono theo legalityo ofo theo recommendationo ofo theo Selectiono Committeeo oro theo questiono relatingo too eligibilityoofoappellantotoobeoappointedotootheopostoofoReaderoinoRepertory.o LPAoNo.o278oofo2021oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(21)

38.o o SoofaroasoCWPoNo.o5043oofo2013oisoconcerned,oweoareoofotheo viewothatoasotheosolitaryopostoofoReaderoinoRepertoryostoodofilledowithotheo promotionoofotheopetitioneroono01.02.2014,obyotheoCollegeoandoitsoapprovalo byotheoUniversityoono22.03.2016,owhichoisonotounderochallenge,onooreliefocano beograntedoinoCWPoNo.o5043oofo2013.o

39.o o Forotheoreasonsorecordedoabove,oLPAoNos.o278oando279oofo2021o filedobyotheoappellantoandoLPAoNos.o816o&o921oofo2021oasowelloasoCWPoNo.o 5043oofo2013oandoCOCPoNo.o2480oofo2021oareodismissed.oTheoappellantowhoo isopetitioneroinoCWPoNo.o5043oofo2013oshallocontinueoinotheoDepartmentoofo ObstetricsoandoGynaecologyoonotheopostosubstantivelyoheldobyoher.o

40.o o Pendingo miscellaneouso applicationo (s),o ifo any,o alsoo standso disposedoof.o o o o o o o o o (ASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRA)o o o o o o o o o JUDGEoo o

22.09.2025o o o o o oooooooooo(ROHIToKAPOOR)o vso o o o o o o oooooooooJUDGEoo o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo o o Yes/Noo