PETITIONER:
KAMLESH KUMAR SHARMA
Vs.
RESPONDENT:
YOGESH KUMAR GUPTA & ORS.
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 09/02/1998
BENCH:
K. VENKATASWAMI, A.P. MISRA
ACT:
HEADNOTE:
JUDGMENT:
THE 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1998
Present:
Hon'ble Mr Justice K. Venkataswami
Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.P. Misra
Shrish Kumar Misra, Adv. for the appellant Sunil Kumar Jain, T.N. Singh, Misra and B.M. sharma, Adv. for the Respondents.
J U D G M E N T
The following Judgment of the Court was delivered: MISRA, J.
The question raised in this appeal is the interpretation of Section 13(4) of the U.P. Higher Education Services Commission Act, 19980 (hereinafter referred to as `the Act') as amended in 1992.
The appellant interprets that the vacancies to be filled in under this sub-section are not only those which occur on account of death or resignation but would include any other vacancy occuring till another list is sent by the commission under Section 13(2) of the Act. In other words, it would also include vacancies not advertised but occuring even for the subsequent academic year. If order to appreciate the question raised, the background and the facts would be useful, which are stated:
Prior to the aforesaid Act, the appointment to the post of teachers in the Non-Governmental Colleges affiliated to the various Universities in the State of Uttar Pradesh was made by the Selection Committee of the management of the concerned college. For various reasons, the said process was not found to be congenial and the aforesaid Act was enacted. Sections 12 or 14 of the Act contained procedure for appointment of teachers as well as Principals. Section 14 provided for the appointment of teachers on ad hoc basis. Since this provision was widely abused and mis-used, as large number of teachers were appointed on the basis of favourtism and not on merits, this was deleted in 1992, wherein both Sections 12 to 14 were substituted by the U.P. Act. No. 2 of 1992. In fact by this, Section 12 of 14 were drastically amended. Amended Section 1(1) provided, every appointment of a teacher is to be made by the management in accordance with the provisions or the Act and any appointment made in contravention thereof is void. Under Sub-section (2), the management has to intimate the existing vacancies and the vacancies, likely to be caused during the course of the academic year, to the Director at such time and in such in such manner as may be prescribed. Though prescribed under rules but not satisfactorily. The academic year is also defined through the Explanation of the same section to mean "period of 12 months commencing on July 1". Under sub-section (3), the Director notifies to the commission subjectwise consolidated list of vacancies intimated to him from all colleges. Under proviso to sub- section (4), the commission has to give wide publicity in the State to the vacancies notified to draw talented persons. Under Section 13, the commission recommends the names of the candidates found most suitable in each subject and such names have to be arranged in the order of merit. The recommendation has to be 25% more than the number of vacancies in that subject. Sub-section (2) of section 13 enables the validity of such a list till the receipt of the new list from the commission. This is departure from the old provision under which the period was only for one year. Sub- section (4) refers to the appointment to be made from the persons in the said list in case of vacancy occurring due to death, resignation or otherwise. For ready reference, Sections 12,13 and 14 of the Act are reproduced below: "12. Procedure for appointment of
teachers-
(1) Every appointment as a teacher
of any college shall be made by the
management in accordance with the
provisions of this Act and every
appointment made in contravention
thereof shall be void.
(2) The management shall intimate
the existing vacancies and the
vacancies, likely to be caused
during the course of the ensuing
academic year, to the Director at
such time and in such manner, as
may be prescribed.
Explanation the expression
academic year means the period of
12 months commencing on July 1.
(3) The director shall notify to
the commission at such time and in
such manner as may be prescribed a
subject wise consolidated list of
vacancies intimated to him from all
colleges.
(4) The manner of selection of
persons for appointment to the
posts of teachers of a college
shall be such, as may be
determined by regulation:
Provided that the commission
shall with a view to inviting
talented persons give wide
publicity in the State to the
vacancies notified to it under sub-
section (3):
Provided further that the
candidates shall be required to
indicate their order of preference
for the various colleges, vacancies
wherein have been advertised.
13. Recommendation of commission
(1) the commission shall, as soon
as possible, after the notification
of vacancies to it under sub-
section (3) of section 12, hold
interview (with or without written
examination of the candidates and
send to the Director a list
recommending such number of names
of candidates found most suitable
in each subject as may be, so far
as practicable, twenty-five per
cent more than the number of
vacancies in that subject. Such
manes shall be arranged in order of
merit show in the interview, or in
the examination and interview if
any examination is held.
(2) The lists sent by the
Commission shall be valid till the
receipt of a new list from the
commission.
(3) The Director shall having due
regard in the prescribed manner, to
the order to preference it any
indicated by the candidates under
the second proviso to sub-section
(4) of Section 12, intimate to the
management the name of a candidate
from the list referred to in sub-
section (1) for being appointed in
the vacancy intimated under sub-
section (2) of Section 12.
(4) Where a vacancy occurs due to
death, resignation or otherwise
during the period or validity of
the list referred to in sub-section
(2) and such vacancy has not been
notified to the commission under
sub-section (3) of Section 12, the
Director may intimate to the
management the name of a candidate
from such list for appointment in
such vacancy.
5. Notwithstanding anything in the
proceeding provision, where
abolition of any post of teacher in
any college, services of the
persons substantively appointed to
such post is terminated the State
Government may make suitable order
for his appointment in a suitable
vacancy, whether notified under
sub-section (3) of Section 12 or
not in any other college, and
thereupon the Director shall
intimate to the management
accordingly.
6. The Director shall send a copy
of the intimation made under sub-
section (3) or sub-section (4) or
sub-section (3) to the Candidate
concerned.
14. Duty of management (1) the
management shall, within a period
of one month from the date of
receipt of intimation under sub-
section (3) or sub-section (4) or
sub-section (5) of Section 13,
issue appointment letter to the
person whose name has been
intimated.
(2) Where the person referred to in
sub-section (1) fails to join the
post within the time allowed in the
appointment letter or within such
extended time as the management may
allow in this behalf, or where such
person is otherwise not available
for appointment, the Director,
shall on request of the management
intimate fresh name from the list
sent by the commission under sub-
section (1) of Section 13 in the
manner prescribed."
The case of the appellant is that the holds doctorate degree, Ph.D in Physics; Degree as High Level fellow from Government of France and I.C.I.P. Fellow from UNESCO. The appellant is working as a Reader in R.K. College, Shamli, Muzaffar Nagar. On 20th April, 1992, pursuant to the advertisement No. 18 issued by the U.P. Higher Education Service Commission, through which applications were invited for the post of Principals for non-governmental colleges in different Universities within the State of Utter pradesh, the appellant applied for the same. The appellant was interviewed and on the basis of the list prepared by the said commission, the Director intimated the names of the various selectees to the managements of various colleges for being appointed as Principals. As per the policy existing at the relevant time, the appointment could only be of an incumbent in case the subject in which he is specialised is taught in the said institution. In the present case, the subject of study of the appellant is "Physics". Incidentally, there were only four colleges where Physics was being taught and four selectees of different subjects, who were higher in the order of merit and whose subjects of studies were also available in the colleges, were appointed in those four colleges. Hence, the appellant could not be appointed in the absence of Physics being taught as one of the subjects therein. Because of this, thereafter the selectees, who were placed below the appellants in the merit list, were also appointed as Principals in the merit list, were also appointed as Principals in respective colleges where their subjects of studies were being taught. On the 1st July, 1993, a post of Principal in Maharaj Singh D.G. College, Saharanpur fell vacant on the retirement of mr. R.P. Sharma, who was a regular Principal of the college. The Director or Higher Education on 20th July, 1993, while exercising power under Section 13(4) of the Act, directed the management of the said college to appoint the appellant as Principal. Against this direction, respondent No.1 herein, namely, Dr. Yogesh Kumar Gupta, filed a writ Petition in the High Court for quashing of the same. Respondent No.1 exerted therein that in fact he is working in the said college as Lecturer in Physics since 1956. He claimed that when the post of Principal tell vacant, by virtue of statute 13.20 of the Meerut University Act, he was appointed as Officiating Principal of the aforesaid college and he assumed charge as Principal of the College. On 19th June, 1995, the High Court allowed the writ petition and quashed the said order of the Director. Against that judgment, the present appeal by special leave is preferred. The High Court, in accepting the contention of respondent No.1 relied upon the case of State of Bihar and another Vs. Madan Mohan Singh and others : AIR 1994 SC 765 and held the present case to be similar to the facts of that case. It was held that there was no occasion for the Director to exercise power under Section 13(4) when a regular vacancy has arisen after superannuation of the Principal in the concerned college. The Director took wrong recourse under the said provisions by sending the name of the appellant which is not contemplated therein. Since there was no advertisement which is necessary for such vacancy, hence the said order was bad and was quashed. Learned counsel for the appellant vehemently argued that the vacancies under Section 13(4) when it refers to "occuring due to death, resignation or otherwise", the word "otherwise" be not read as a ejusdem gener is but in a wider connotation covering all vacancies, it would cover all vacancies including the vacancies referred to under Section 12(2) but prior to the intimation by the management may be for the subsequent academic year. It is not in dispute that the appellant applied for the vacancies published on 20th April, 1992. As aforesaid, it covered all the vacancies of the academic year which would be from 1st July, 1991 to 30th June 1992. In other words, not only the existing vacancies on the date of publication of the advertisement, i.e., 20th April, 1992, but till 30th June, 1992. Section 12(2) empowers filling of the vacancies likely to be caused during the course of ensuing academic year. The academic year is defined under explanation of that sub-section as the period of 12 months commencing on July 1. The appellant contends, in view of Section 13(2), that the life of the list sent by the commission is extended till the next new list is received from the commission, the list in question would be alive, even beyond one year. The vacancy as aforesaid, hence occuring on 1st July, 1993, even though falling in another academic year would also be covered by the word "otherwise" and hence appointment of the appellant by means of the order of Director is valid.
The contention is that the purpose for amending the old law was to remove the adhocism hence the word "otherwise" should not be interpreted in a restricted sense. If interpreted in a wind sense, any vacancy accruing till the next list by the Commission would be absorbed and hence no vacancy would remain untilled for long. I here should be no difficulty to make appointment from the duly selected persons who are in the panel of the select list, even it there is any delay in making selection for the subsequent academic year.
On behalf of the State, supporting appellant's case, learned counsel emphasised that the purpose of 25% more than the vacancies advertised under sub-section (1) of Section 13 is only to cover such exigencies, namely to appoint such persons from the said list for any subsequent vacancies occuring not only for the vacancy advertised but which may occur in any subsequent academic year in question. Learned counsel for the appellant referred to Surinder Singh and Others Vs. State of Punjab and another : (1997) 8 SCC 488. Reliance is placed on paragraph 13: "State can deviate from the
advertisement and make appointments
on posts falling vacant thereafter
in exceptional circumstances only
or in an emergent situation and
that too by taking a policy
decision in that behalf. Even when
filling up of more posts than
advertised is challenged the court
may not, while exercising its
extraordinary jurisdiction,
invalidate the excess appointments
and may mould the relief in such a
manner as to strike a just balance
between the interest of the State
and the interest of persons
seeking public employment."
He also relied on the
following words in paragraph 14:
"A waiting list prepared in
service matters by the competent
authority is a list of eligible and
qualified candidates who in order
of merit are placed below the last
selected candidate. How it should
operate and what is its nature may
be governed by the rules."
The contention is that the other observations in the said decision even though may be said to be contrary to contention raised by the appellant but the same is diluted when it approves an appointment in exceptional circumstances. It further approves if there be any relevant rules in this regards. In the present case the appellant contends that under sub-section (4) of section 13, there is a specific provision to include such vacancies, hence it is within the permissible law and rules and as such, the appointment of the appellant is valid. On the other hand learned counsel for respondent No.1 argued that the word "otherwise" under Section 13(4) is to be read as a ejusdem general and would cover only such vacancies which could be grouped with the like words "death and resignation" that is to say unforeseen vacancies. This would not include the vacancies occuring for succeeding academic years.
Having heard learned counsel for the parties and having gone though the relevant Act and the rules, we find that the aforesaid amendments were brought in to eliminate adhocism and irregular appointment of teachers. This is also to eliminate favoritism, nepotism and other processes, through which unqualified undesirable persons were appointed excluding meritorious teachers. The proviso to sub-section (4) of Section 12 provides for wide publicity through advertisement for inviting talented persons for filling up such vacancies, as notified under sub-section (3). This was keeping in mind that whenever such vacancy occurs selection should be from a larger sphere through wide advertisements which would include. Large appointment made for any vacancy not properly advertised limits sphere where it may either as under the old Act to be regularised or under the principle of equity, sympathy to be regularised it a case be made out which erodes the very foundation of a teaching institution by lowering the teaching standard. It is, keeping this objective, the aforesaid amendments in 1992 were brought in. The relevant portion of Statement of Objects and Reasons of the aforesaid Act in this regard is reproduced below:- " Prefatory Note Statement of
Objects and Reasons. The Uttar
Pradesh Higher Education Services
(Commission) Act, 1980 (U.P. ACT
No. 16 of 1980) has been enacted to
establish a Service commission for
the selection of teachers for
appointment to the colleges
affiliated to or recognised by a
University. Section 16 of the ACT
empowered the management of Degree
Colleges to appoint ad hoc
teachers. Under this provision ad
hoc teachers were appointed in the
non-Government colleges who
continued to work from the date of
their appointment. These teachers
had been demanding regularisation
their service. It was decided to
amend the aforesaid ACT:
(1) To regularise the
qualified and otherwise eligible ad
hoc teachers appointed during the
period between January 3, 1984 and
January 30, 1991;
(2) To abolish system of
appointing ad hod teachers;
(3) To streamline the manner
of selection of teachers by
providing that subject wise
consolidated number of vacancies
likely to be caused during an
academic year shall be notified to
the commission which will send the
list of candidates selected for
appointment to the Director, who
will intimate the names to
management for making
appointments;"
We find, after giving out careful consideration that in case the appellant's argument is accepted by giving wider interpretation to the word "otherwise" it would thwart the very object of the ACT. In other words it would permit the filling of the vacancy occuring which was never advertised and a person in the select list panel, even though not applying for any vacancy would be absorbed. hence would be limiting the sphere of selection in contradiction to the object of the provision to draw larger applicants by advertising every vacancy to be filled in. We have no hesitation to say that any appointment to be made on a vacancy occuring in the succeeding year in question for which there is no advertisement under the provisions of sub- section (4) of section 12, the person on the panel list of preceeding academic year in question, cannot be absorbed or be appointed. The word "otherwise" has to be read as ejusdem generis that is to say in group similar to death, resignation, long leave vacancy, invalidation, person not joining after being duly selected. In other words, it would be a case of unforeseen vacancies which could not be conceiver under Section 12(2). Section 12(2) conceives of a vacancy which is existing on the date the vacancy is to be advertised and which is likely to be caused in future but constricted for a period ending in the ensuing academic year in question. The words "likely to be caused" under Section 12(2) are followed by the words "during the course of the ensuring academic year" that is any person likely to retire by the end of the academic year in question. In other words, such vacancies could be for seen and not unforeseen. While vacancies under Section 13(4) are unforeseen vacancies which fall under the group, death and/or resignation. Hence the word "otherwise" cannot be given the wide and liberal interpretation which would exclude large number of expected applicants who could be waiting to apply for the vacancies occuring in the succeeding year in question. In the aforesaid case of Surinder Singh (supra) relied upon by the appellant, the Court also holds in clear words: "It is in no uncertain words
that this Court has held that it
would be an improper exercise of
power to make appointments over and
above those advertised. It is only
in rare and exceptional
circumstances and in emergent
situation that this rule can be
deviated from. It should be clearly
spelled out as to under what policy
such a decision has been taken.
Exercise of such poser has to be
tested on the touchstone of
reasonableness. Before any
advertisement is issued, it would,
therefore, be incumbent upon the
authorities to take into account
the existing vacancies and
anticipated vacancies. It is not as
a matter of course that the
authority can till up more posts
than advertised."
It is not necessary to go into the question, to the portion relied upon by the appellant in the aforesaid case of Surinder Singh as that is not the position here, nor set up before the High Court or in the S.I.P. in the pleedings in exceptional circumstances or in an emergent situation and that too by taking a policy decision such appointment could be made. We find that in the present case neither there is any exceptional circumstances, emergent situation or any policy decision in this regard nor there is anything on the record to suggest the same. This apart, in the present case in view or clear provision in the ACT there is no scope from deviating from the clear mandate that is to absorb any vacancy after due advertisement. Hence it would be of no avail to the appellant. Section 12 and 13, as we have found above, lead to inescapable conclusion that the appointment on the regular vacancies occuring under Section 12(2) could only be made by advertisement under the proviso to sub- section (4) of Section 12. This will ensure proper teaching and maintaining the standard of institution. Of course, the filling of vacancies under sub-section (4) of Section 13 on the vacancies already advertised arises only in case the person does not join or on account of death or resignation or person after joining, becomes invalid or such unforeseen circumstances. In other words, all the circumstances has to be within the vacancies already advertised and not beyond it. The sphere of sub-section (4) of section 13 is within the vacancies for which the Commission took interview or the examination, as the case may be, under sub-section (1) of section 13 sub-section (2) which says that the list from the commission only means that in case there is delay in the next new list and any vacancy occurs on account of the unforeseen reason within the vacancies advertised, the said vacancy can be filled up under sub section (4) of Section 13. The list would not come to an end after a period of one year, as was earlier, and would continue for a limited purpose as explained above till the selection in the next academic year in question is made and recommendations are sent with a fresh list. In Hoshiar Singh Vs. State of Haryana and others: 1993 Supp (4) SCC 377, selection of candidates by the selection committee in excess of requisition was held to be illegal. it was held :-
"Since the requisition was for
eight posts of inspector of Police,
the Board was required to send its
recommendations for eight posts
only. The Board, on its own, could
not recommend names of 19 persons
for appointment even though the
requisition was for eight posts
only."
In Ashok Kumar and others Vs. Chairman, Banking Service Recruitment Board and others : 1996 (1) SCC 283 the Court held :
"Article 14 read with Article
16(1) of the constitution enshrines
fundamental right to every citizen
to claim consideration for
appointment to a post under the
State. Therefore, vacant posts
arising or expected should be
notified inviting applications from
all eligible candidates to be
considered for their selection in
accordance with their merit. The
recruitment of the candidates in
excess of the notified vacancies is
a denial and deprivation of the
constitutional right under Article
14 read with Article 16(1) of
Constitution. The procedure
adopted, therefore, in appointing
the persons kept in the waiting
list by the respective Boards,
though the vacancies had arisen
subsequently without being notified
for recruitment, is
unconstitutional. However, since
the appointment have already been
made and none was impleaded, we are
not ancllined to interfere with
these matters adversely affecting
their appointments, However
hereafter the respective Boards
should notify the existing and
excepted vacancies and Recruitment
Board should get advertisement
published and recruitment should
strictly be made by the respective
Boards in accordance with the
procedure to the notified vacancies
but not to any vacancies that may
arise during the process of
selection."
The view taken in this case is the same as we have round above.
As per the scheme of the Act and the aforesaid provisions, for each academic year in question, the management has to intimate the existing vacancies and vacancies likely to be caused by the end of the ensuing academic year in question. Thereafter, the Director shall notify the same to the Commission and the Commission, in turn, will invite applications by giving wide publicity in the State of such vacancies. The vacancies cannot be filled except by following the procedure as contained therein. Sub- section (1) or Section 12 has incorporated in strong words that any appointment made in contravention of the provisions or the ACT shall be void . This was to ensure no back door entry but selection only as provided under the said sections.
We have also perused the Judgment given by the High Court. We find that the order of the Director, under which the appellant claims appointment, was rightly quashed by the High Court.
It was also argued, though not with the same vehemence, that respondent No. 1 has no locus standi to challenge the said order of the Director. Apart from the fact that this question was never raised by the appellant either in the writ petition before the High Court or in the Special leave petition, we find that respondent No.1 has interest, as he was officiating Principal appointed under statute 13.20 of the Meerut University. it was argued by learned counsel for the appellant that the statute contemplates the appointment of a Principal should be of a senior most teacher which respondent No.1 is not. Repelling this argument, respondent No. 1 has pointed out through an affidavit before this Court that since the senior most teacher declined this after, the next senior most, i.e. respondent No.1, was appointed to which there was no denial. For all these reasons, we do not find any substance in the objection of the appellant regarding locos standi of respondent No.1. For the aforesaid reasons, we do not find any merit in the contentions raised by the learned counsel for the appellant. Hence, the appeal fails and is dismissed. Costs on the parties.