High Court | Courts & Cases

Judgment

1. All these writ petitions are arising out of a selection process initiated to fill vacant post of Assistant Professor in Digambar Jain College (Minority Educational Institution), Baraut, Baghpat.

2. Facts, as mentioned in one of the writ petition, are that there was a dispute with regard to Committee of Management of said Minority Institution and earlier attempt to fill up the vacant post does not reach to its logical end due to orders passed by Registrar of Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut.

In above background an issue came up before this Court relating to inspection and Committee of Management of said Minority Institution filed Writ-A No. 20415 of 2023, which was disposed of vide order dated

20.12.2023 and relevant part thereof is mentioned hereinafter: 2 “11. The facts are not in dispute. The only bone of contention in between the parties is relatable to the fact as to whether the said exercise could have been resorted to by the State Government on the basis of the complaint behind the back of the writ petitioners without putting them to notice. The second issue would be whether the source of power of passing the said order would be Section 66-A or Section 40 of the U.P. State Universities Act, 1973. Though learned counsel for the writ petitioners argues that Section 66-A does not provide for such a power to be resorted to in view of the judgments in the case of Rekha Yadav (supra) and Rakesh Ranjan Verma (supra), however, on the other hand the respondents have relied upon Section 40 of the 1973 Act. Section 40 of the U.P. State Universities Act, 1970 provides a procedure, according to which inspection is to be done and further the association of the Committee of Management is also required. It is also apparent from Sub-section (4) of Section 40 that the State Government may communicate to the Management the result of the inspection or enquiry and may issue a direction as to the action to be taken and the Management shall comply thereof and further Sub-Section (5) provides that the State Government shall inform the Vice-Chancellor about any communication made by it to the Management under sub-section (4) and finally sub-section (6) of Section 40 provides that the State Government may, at any time, call for any information from the Management or Principal of an affiliated or associated college in connection with such inspection or inquiry. Thus in the opinion of the Court, a complete set of procedure has been provided modulating the manner according to which inspection is to be done and follow up action to be taken in that regard. Since the Court finds that the order in question has been passed in violation of the principles of natural justice and further the writ petitioner has raised the issue of jurisdiction, thus in the opinion of the Court the State Government has to specify as to what is the provision, under which it has proceeded to take such an action and whether it is permissible under law.

12. Bearing in mind the aforesaid issues, the writ petition is decided in the following manner: (a) The order dated 22.11.2023 passed by the Joint Secretary, State of U.P., Lucknow, second respondent is set aside. (b) The matter stands remitted back to the second respondent, Joint Secretary, State of U.P., Lucknow, to pass fresh order strictly in accordance with law within a period of two weeks from today.

13. It is open for the affected parties to join themselves post-remand and the second respondent shall pass orders strictly in accordance with law detailing the source of power either under Section 40 or Section 66-A of the State Universities Act 1973 and it is open for the 3 writ petitioners to raise the questions of jurisdiction and all legal and factual issues, which is to be decided by the authorities.

14. With the aforesaid observations, the writ petition stands disposed of.”

4. Before aforesaid order was passed candidates were selected and they were awaiting their appointment letters.

5. In pursuance of above referred order passed by this Court, Joint Secretary, Higher Education, Government of U.P., Lucknow passed order dated 06.05.2024 that since earlier selection of Teachers in Minority Institution was governed by provisions of U.P. Higher Education Services Selection Commission Act, however, now a new Act has been enacted, namely, U.P. Education Service Selection Commission Act, 2023, which came into force on 21.08.2023 and now said selection in Minority Institution is to be governed by said Commission and since there is a change of procedure of selection, therefore, it was directed that earlier selection process is liable to be cancelled. Relevant part of said order is reproduced hereinafter: “7- प्रश्नगत प्रकरण में सुनवाई के उपरांत बिं(cid:22)दु विवचारणीय हैः-

7.1 महाविवद्यालय का संचालन करने वाली प्र(cid:22)ंध सविमतित कालातीत है, प्र(cid:22)न्ध सविमतित की वैधता एवं चुनाव को लेकर अनेक रिरट यातिचकाएं मा० न्यायालय के समक्ष विवचाराधीन है।

7.2 क्षेत्रीय उच्च शि0क्षा अतिधकारी, मेरठ के पत्र संख्या- क्षे०का०मे०/1324- 26/2023-2024 विदनांक 10.07.2023 के माध्यम से 05 पदों पर, विनदे0क, उच्च शि0क्षा, प्रयागराज के पत्र संख्या- ति6ग्री अर्थ9-1/2562/2023-2024 विदनांक 04.08.2023 के माध्यम से 08 पदों पर एवं विनदे0क, उच्च शि0क्षा, प्रयागराज के पत्र संख्या-ति6ग्री अर्थ9-1/2944/2023-2024 विदनांक 08.08.2023 के माध्यम से 09 पदों पर अर्था9त शि0क्षकों के कुल 22 रिरक्त पदों पर भत< की अनुज्ञा प्रदान की गयी। विनदे0क, उच्च शि0क्षा, प्रयागराज के उपर्य़ुु9क्त संदर्भिभत पत्रों विदनांक 04.08.2023 एवं विदनांक 08.08.2023 में स्पष्ट उल्लिCखिEत है विक " प्रस्ताविवत शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग के अस्तिस्तत्व में आने के फलस्वरूप भत< प्रविKया में कोई (cid:22)दलाव होता है तो, उक्त अनुज्ञा स्वतः विनरस्त समझी जायेगी।"

7.3 यहां स(cid:22)से महत्वपूण9 बिं(cid:22)दु यह है विक विवधायी अनुभाग-1, उ०प्र० 0ासन द्वारा विनग9त अतिधसूचना संख्या-415/79-विव-1-2023-1-क-14-2023 विदनांक 21.08.2023 के माध्यम से उ०प्र० शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग अतिधविनयम, 2023 4 प्रख्याविपत हुआ। इस आयोग के माध्यम से सहायता प्राप्त अल्पसंख्यक महाविवद्यालयों में शि0क्षकों की विनयुक्त की जानी है। ध्यातव्य है विक सहायता प्राप्त अल्पसंख्यक महाविवद्यालयों में शि0क्षकों की भत< उ०प्र० उच्चतर शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग, प्रयागराज की परिरतिध से (cid:22)ाहर र्था। अर्था9त उ०प्र० शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग, प्रयागरा के गठन के उपरांत अल्पसंख्यक महाविवद्यालयों में भत< की प्रविKया में (cid:22)दलाव विकया गया है। अतः उक्त आधार पर विनदे0क, उच्च शि0क्षा, प्रयागराज के पत्र विदनांक 04.08.2023 एवं विदनांक 08.08.2023 द्वारा विनग9त अनुज्ञायें स्वतः विनरस्त हो गयी है। उत्तर प्रदे0 शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग के गठन के उद्देश्य एवं कारण में यह स्पष्ट उल्लिCखिEत है विक " संस्र्था स्तरीय चयन सविमतितयों द्वारा संचाखिलत चयन प्रविKया में पारदर्भि0ता का अभाव भी परिरलतिक्षत है, ल्लिजसके परिरणामस्वरूप मुकदमें की स्तिस्र्थतितयां उत्पन्न हो रही है।" प्रश्नगत प्रकरण में भी यही स्तिस्र्थतित परिरलतिक्षत होती है।

7.4 प्रश्नगत प्रकरण में महाविवद्यालय प्र(cid:22)ंध सविमतित द्वारा संचाखिलत भत< प्रविKया पर वैधता, अविनयविमतता, भ्रष्टाचार एवं अनेक अन्य आरोप लगाये गये है। सूच्य है विक सहायता प्राप्त अल्पसंख्यक महाविवद्यालयों के शि0क्षकों के वेतन का भुगतान राज्य द्वारा प्रदत्त अनुदान से विकया जाता है। लोक विनतिधयों का प्रभावी, कु0ल, पारद0< एवं 0ुतिचतापूण9 उपयो्ग सुविनति[त करना राज्य सरकार का स(cid:22)से महत्वपूण9 दातियत्व है। ऐसी स्तिस्र्थतित में शि0क्षकों के चयन की पारद0< , विनष्पक्ष, 0ुतिचतापूण9 एवं गुणवत्तापूण9 व्यवस्र्था के खिलये उ०प्र० शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग का गठन विकये जाने के (cid:22)ाद विदगम्(cid:22)र जैन कालेज, (cid:22)6ौत, (cid:22)ागपत में शि0क्षकों की भत< प्रविKया, उसी प्र(cid:22)ंधतंत्र से , ल्लिजस पर अनेक आरोप लगाये गये है, से कराये जाने का कोई औतिचत्य प्रतीत नहीं होता है। उक्त के अतितरिरक्त उ०प्र० शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग के गठन के उपरांत कालेज द्वारा भत< प्रविKया संचाखिलत होने से एक ही समय में दो पृर्थक प्रविKयाए स्र्थाविपत हो जायेंगी, जो विवतिध विवरूद्ध होगा। 8- अतः उपयु9क्त वर्भिणत स्तिस्र्थतित में रिरट यातिचका संख्या-20415/2023 कमेटी आफ मैनेजमेंट विदगम्(cid:22)र जैन महाविवद्यालय, (cid:22)6ौत, (cid:22)ागपत व अन्य (cid:22)नाम उ०प्र० राज्य व 07 अन्य में मा० उच्च न्यायालय, इलाहा(cid:22)ाद द्वारा पारिरत आदे0 विदनांक 20.12.2023 के अनुपालन में उ०प्र० शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग के गठन के उपरांत विनदे0क, उच्च शि0क्षा, प्रयागराज द्वारा विनग9त अनुज्ञाएं स्वतः विनरस्त होने की स्तिस्र्थतित में महाविवद्यालय- विहत, उच्च शि0क्षा-विहत एवं पारदर्भि0ता तर्था 0ुतिचता सुविनति[त करने के दृविष्टगत विदगम्(cid:22)र जैन महाविवद्यालय, (cid:22)6ौत, (cid:22)ागपत में अल्लिस० प्रोफेसर के 22 पदों पर प्रविKयारत भत< उ०प्र० शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग से कराये जाने का विनण9य एतद द्वारा विकया जाता है।”

6. Aforesaid order dated 06.05.2024 was challenged by selected candidates in Writ-A No. 7792 of 2024 and by Committee of Management by way of filing Writ-A No. 7979 of 2024. 5

7. In said two writ petitions counter affidavit was filed by State- Respondents-1, 2 and 3 (The State of U.P. through Secretary, Higher Education, U.P., Lucknow; The Joint Secretary, State of U.P., Lucknow; and The Director of Higher Education, U.P., Prayagraj, respective), sworn by Assistant Director, Office of Directorate, Higher Education at Prayagraj and relevant paragraphs thereof are mentioned hereinafter: “ 8. That it is provided that the Committee of Management managing the institution is time-barred, therefore, various writ petitions filed for validity and for holding the elections of Committee of Management.

9. That it is further relevant to mention here that permission was given for recruitment on 05 post by Regional Higher Education Officer, Meerut vide letter dated 10.07.2023, on 08 posts by Director, Higher Education vide letter dated 04.08.2023 and on 09 posts by the Director, Higher Education, Prayagraj, vide letter dated 08.08.2023 i.e. a total of 22 vacant posts of teachers.

10. That it is clearly mentioned in the above referred letters dated 04.08.2023 and dated 08.08.2023 of the Director, Higher Education, Prayagraj that, “ If there is any change in the recruitment process as a result of the coming into existence of the proposed Education Service Selection Commission, the said permission will automatically deemed to be cancelled. The most important point here is that the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission Act, 2023 was promulgated by, Notification dated 21.08.2023 issued by the Uttar Pradesh Government.

11. That in terms of Notification dated 21.08.2023 issued by the Uttar Pradesh Government the teachers are also to be appointed in aided minority colleges by the UP Education Service Selection Commission. It is noteworthy to mention here that the recruitment of teachers in aided minority colleges was outside the purview of UP Higher Education Service Selection Commission, Prayagraj, but, after the formation of UP Education Service Selection Commission, Prayagraj, the process of recruitment in minority colleges has been changed. Therefore, on the above basis, the permissions issued by the Director, Higher Education, Prayagraj vide letter dated 04.08.2023 and dated 08.08.2023 have been automatically stand nullified. It is clearly mentioned in the purpose and reason of constitution of Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission that lack of transparency is also reflected in the selection process conducted by the institution level selection committees, as a result of which, various litigations have been filed. 6

12. That the same situation is reflected in the case in question and in the case in question, allegations of legality, irregularity, corruption and many other allegations have been made on the recruitment process conducted by the College Management Committee. It is further pointed that the salaries of teachers of aided minority colleges are paid from the grants provided by the state. The most important responsibility of the state governments is to ensure effective, efficient, transparent and fair use of public funds. At this stage, after the constitution of Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission for a transparent, fair and complete quality system of selection of teachers, the recruitment process of teachers in the institution in question to be done by the same management against which many allegations have been made on which there seem to be any justification.

13. That apart form the above, if the recruitment process is conducted by the college after the formation of Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission, two separate processes will be established at the same time, which will be against the law. In the above mentioned situation, a writ petition no. 20415/2023 filed by the petitioner, in which this Hon’ble Court passed order dated 20.12.2023, consequently in compliance with the Hon’ble Court’s order dated 20.12.2023 passed in the aforesaid writ petition, after the constitution of Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission, in the event of automatic cancellation of permissions issued by the Director, Higher Education, Prayagraj, in the interest of the college- interest of higher education and to ensure transparency and purity. Thus, in view of aforesaid backdrop, it has been decided to get the recruitment process for 22 posts of Assistant Professor in the Institution in question done by Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission.”

8. Above referred specific stand of State-Respondents is later on changed and a U-tern was taken and without any permission of this Court or informing the Court, Chief Secretary of Higher Education, issued a Office Memorandum dated 20.11.2024 that earlier order dated 06.05.2024 was recalled on basis of a representation filed by Committee of Management of said Minority Institution dated 16.05.2024. Said order dated 20.11.2024 is reproduced hereinafter: "उत्तर प्रदे0 0ासन, उच्च शि0क्षा अनुभाग-2 संख्याः-1/800391 2024 70-2099/52/2023 7 लEनऊः विदनाँक 20 नवम्(cid:22)र, 2024 काया9लय - ज्ञाप विदगम्(cid:22)र जैन महाविवद्यालय, (cid:22)6ौत, (cid:22)ागपत में अल्लिस० प्रोफेसर के 22 पदों पर भत< के विदन से सतिचव/ प्राचाय9 प्र(cid:22)ंध सविमतित विदगम्(cid:22)र जैन काखिलज (cid:22)ागपत के प्रत्यावेदन विदनांक 16.05.2024 पर सम्यक (cid:22)6ौत, विवचारोपरान्त प्रविKयारत भत< का उ०प्र० शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग प्रयागराज से कराये जाने सं(cid:22)ंधी काया9लय ज्ञाप संख्या-844/सत्तर- 2- 2023-16(117)/2023 विदनांक 06.05.2024 की आध्यता समाप्त की जाती है। 2. उक्त आदे0 मा० उच्च न्यायालय में योल्लिजत रिरट यातिचका संख्या - 7979/2024 नीलू जैन व 04 अन्य (cid:22)नाम उ०प्र० राज्य व 05 अन्य तर्था रिरट यातिचका संख्या-7979/2024/कमेटी आफ मैनेजमेंट विदगम्(cid:22)र जैन महाविवद्यालय (cid:22)6ौत (cid:22)ागपत व अन्य (cid:22)नाम उ०प्र० राज्य व 07 अन्य में मा० उच्च न्यायालय इलाहा(cid:22)ाद द्वारा पारिरत अंतितम विनण9य के अधीन होगा। Signed by Mahendra Prasad Agrawal Date: 19.11.2024 19.48.22 (एम०पी० अग्रवाल) प्रमुE सतिचव ।" Aforesaid order is challenged by other Petitioner-Sunil Kumar Jain,

9. claiming to be a life member of Committee of Management by filing Writ-A No. 19843 of 2024. As referred above, aforesaid order has neither referred the contents of representation dated 16.05.2024 filed by Committee of Management nor any reason has been assigned why earlier order dated

06.05.2024 is effectively recalled, despite supported in counter affidavit filed in other connected writ petitions.

10. Sri Anoop Trivedi, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Ms. Shreya Gupta, learned counsel appearing for petitioners (selected candidates) in Writ-A No. 7792 of 2024, mainly, argued that a process once initiated cannot be stopped on basis of some subsequent event, i.e., enactment of U.P. Education Service Selection Commission Act, 2023. Impugned order dated

06.05.2024 does not describe any reasons, therefore, it was rightly recalled by a subsequent order dated 20.11.2024, which is impugned in Writ-A No. 8 19843 of 2024. It was also referred that challenge to said order in above writ petition is not maintainable since selected candidates, i.e., petitioners in Writ-A No. 7792 of 2024, are not made party.

11. Sri G.K. Singh, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Sri Nipun Singh, learned counsel appearing for petitioners in Writ-A No. 7979 of 2024 filed by Committee of Management of said Minority Institution, has reiterated the similar arguments. He also requested that opportunity be granted to State to file counter affidavit in Writ-A No. 19843 of 2024.

12. As referred above, in aforesaid two writ petitions, i.e., Writ-A Nos. 7792 of 2024 and 7979 of 2024, order impugned is dated 06.05.2024 and as referred above, this order is now recalled by subsequent order dated

20.11.2024, as such both these writ petitions may become infructuous, however, since order dated 20.11.2024 is impugned in Writ-A No. 19843 of 2024, therefore, Court will take note of above submissions also, if required, in later part of judgment.

13. Sri Rakesh Pande, learned Senior Advocate assisted by Sri Chandan Sharma, learned counsel appearing for petitioner in Writ-A No. 19843 of 2024, submitted that the Committee of Management is under dispute, as such any process initiated was a legally incorrect approach. Once order dated 06.05.2024 was under challenge and it was supported by State, then any order to recall it or change it by subsequent order dated 20.11.2024 was illegal.

14. In reply to above submissions, Sri R.K. Tripathi, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for State-Respondents, submitted that State was empowered to take a different decision since there was no bar.

15. Heard learned counsel for parties and perused the material available on record.

16. Pleadings are already exchanged in one of the writ petition and all the facts are before this Court, therefore, there is no need to file counter affidavit in Writ-A No. 19843 of 2024. 9

17. So far as maintainability of Writ-A No. 19843 of 2024 is concerned since selected candidates are not party in it, for that the Court takes note that selected candidates are already before this Court by filing Writ-A No. 7792 of 2024 wherein pleadings are already exchanged as well as now they have filed impleadment application and their version has also been heard.

18. As referred above, there is a dispute with regard to Committee of Management of concerned Minority Institution, however, the Court is not entering into that issue at this stage.

19. The Court is concerned that once an order has been passed by Higher Education Department of State of U.P. in pursuance of an order passed by this Court on 06.05.2024 that the selection process of Teachers in said Minority Institution cannot go further and some reasons were also assigned, which was subject matter of two writ petitions, i.e., Writ-A Nos. 7792 of 2024 and 7979 of 2024 and even a detailed counter affidavit was filed by State-Respondents, supporting the said order with specific averment, then under what circumstances without informing the Court, said order was recalled by a cryptic order dated 20.11.2024. For reference said order dated

20.11.2024 is again reproduced hereinafter: "उत्तर प्रदे0 0ासन, उच्च शि0क्षा अनुभाग-2 संख्याः-1/800391 2024 70-2099/52/2023 लEनऊः विदनाँक 20 नवम्(cid:22)र, 2024 काया9लय - ज्ञाप विदगम्(cid:22)र जैन महाविवद्यालय, (cid:22)6ौत, (cid:22)ागपत में अल्लिस० प्रोफेसर के 22 पदों पर भत< के विदन से सतिचव/ प्राचाय9 प्र(cid:22)ंध सविमतित विदगम्(cid:22)र जैन काखिलज (cid:22)ागपत के प्रत्यावेदन विदनांक 16.05.2024 पर सम्यक (cid:22)6ौत, विवचारोपरान्त प्रविKयारत भत< का उ०प्र० शि0क्षा सेवा चयन आयोग प्रयागराज से कराये जाने सं(cid:22)ंधी काया9लय ज्ञाप संख्या-844/सत्तर- 2- 2023-16(117)/2023 विदनांक 06.05.2024 की आध्यता समाप्त की जाती है। 2. उक्त आदे0 मा० उच्च न्यायालय में योल्लिजत रिरट यातिचका संख्या - 7979/2024 नीलू जैन व 04 अन्य (cid:22)नाम उ०प्र० राज्य व 05 अन्य तर्था 10 रिरट यातिचका संख्या-7979/2024/कमेटी आफ मैनेजमेंट विदगम्(cid:22)र जैन महाविवद्यालय (cid:22)6ौत (cid:22)ागपत व अन्य (cid:22)नाम उ०प्र० राज्य व 07 अन्य में मा० उच्च न्यायालय इलाहा(cid:22)ाद द्वारा पारिरत अंतितम विनण9य के अधीन होगा। Signed by Mahendra Prasad Agrawal Date: 19.11.2024 19.48.22 (एम०पी० अग्रवाल) प्रमुE सतिचव ।" 20. Contents of above order indicates that a very Senior Officer in Higher Education Department, in a very careless manner proceeded with the matter and without taking note of stand of Department before this Court and the fact that matter is sub-judice. The said Higher Officer has not taken pain to inform the Court about order dated 20.11.2024. No reason has been mentioned in above referred order nor any details are mentioned about said representation dated 16.05.2024 submitted by Committee of Management, after a writ petition was filed before this Court, being Writ-A No. 7979 of 2024 on 12.05.2024. Even said Committee of Management has also not informed the Court that any representation was pending before said authority.

21. Aforesaid approach of a Senior Officer of State, i.e., Chief Secretary of Higher Education, was not only casual but inappropriate also. Accordingly, Court is of the considered opinion that there was no justification to pass said order especially when it has assigned no reason.

22. In view of above, impugned order dated 20.11.2024 in Writ-A No. 19843 of 2024, is hereby set aside.

23. So far as order impugned in Writ-A Nos. 7792 of 2024 and 7979 of 2024, i.e., order dated 06.05.2024 is concerned, said order also cannot sustain on ground that it does not take note of other provisions of U.P. Education Service Selection Commission Act, 2023, i.e., Repeal and Savings as provided under Section 31 of Act. It ought to have taken note with regard to eligibility and minimum qualifications, whether there was any difference or not. Court also takes note, as told by learned counsel for parties, that till 11 date U.P. Education Service Selection Commission has not commenced its working. These factors were not even taken note of.

24. In aforesaid circumstances, impugned order dated 06.05.2024 in Writ- A Nos. 7792 of 2024 and 7979 of 2024, is hereby set aside. Concerned respondents are directed to relook into the matter and pass a fresh order. Higher Officials in Department of Higher Education, Government of U.P. are cautioned to remain careful while passing orders, especially when they are recalling any order during pending litigation. Fresh decision shall be taken within a period of four weeks from today. Meanwhile, further procedure of selection shall be kept in abeyance.

25. With aforesaid observations/ directions, all these writ petitions are disposed of. Order Date :- 21.01.2025 AK (Saurabh Shyam Shamshery, J.)