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Judgment
M.E.N. Patrudu, J.—Dr. G. Jeyasekaran, Assistant Professor of Department of Fish Processing Technology Fisheries College & Research
Institute, Tuticorin is the petitioner.
The first and second respondents are the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,
Madras and the third respondent is another Assistant Professor in the Department of Fisheries Biology of Tuticorin Fisheries College, where the
petitioner is working.
The grievance of the petitioner is that he applied for the post of Associate Professor in response to the notification issued by the Tamil Nadu
Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madras (hereinafter referred to as ""University"") through advertisement No. 1/96 wherein, applications
are invited for filling up the post of Associate Professor and ignoring his qualifications and eligibility, the third respondent was selected by the first
and second respondents, therefore he is questioning the legality and the correctness of the said selection.
In nutshell, the admitted facts are the appointment of the petitioner as well as the third respondent as Assistant Professors in the respective
departments. It is also admitted about the issuance of notification referred supra.
As per the above notification at Serial No. 20 of the notification for Associate Professors, the University called for an application filling up
through direct recruitment as Associate Professor in Fish Processing Technology Department and one post is available for the said category. As
per the notification, the qualifications for the post is the person who had Ph.D. with 5 years of experience in teaching/research in the concerned
subject.
The contention of the petitioner is that he along with four others appeared for interview on 26.6.1997 and thereafter, third respondent who is not
working in the department was selected whereas, he was denied though he is working in the Department of Fish Processing Technology as an
Assistant Professor. The post of Associate Professor is from the same department, while so, the third respondent is working in the Department of
Fisheries Biology which is a different Department. But the University has ignored the legitimate claim. It is further stated that the third respondent
has no qualification.
The University filed a counter wherein, it is stated that the advertisement was issued for filling up the post of an Associate Professor in Fish
Processing Technology Department. In paragraph No. 7 it is stated the relaxation was made by the Board after considering the service of
candidates who are in service on 3.11.1989 because the Post Graduate course was introduced in the University only after the academic year
1991-1992 and there may not be any persons obtaining Ph.D. degree with 5 years experience by then.
In paragraph 8 of the counter, the first and second respondents have given a Comparative Table of the petitioner as well as the third respondent
on merit, qualification and eligibility.
Dr. G. Jeyasekaran Dr. C.B.T. Rajagopalasamy
Course Discipline Year Course Discipline Year
B.F.Sc Fisheries Science 1983 B.F.Sc Fisheries Science 1982
M.F.Sc. Industrial Fishery 1985 M.F.Sc Fisheries Science 1985
Technology
Ph.D Fishery Microbiology 1994 Ph.D Aquaculture 1996
Having given the comparative chart the respondents contended that the selection of the third respondent is strictly in accordance with rules of the
University and as per the decision of the Selection Committee.
In paragraph No. 4 of the counter, it is stated that the petitioner was awarded punishment of stoppage of increment for a period of 3 years on
a misconduct of unauthorised absence as the petitioner while proceeding for doing Ph.D. degree, did not obtain any proper permission from the
University.
The third respondent who is a successful candidate and who is now an Associate Professor though appeared through an Advocate, did not
choose to file any counter.
Heard arguments of Shri. S. James, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner and Shri. D. Thirumavalavan learned Counsel appearing for
the University and Shri. D. Krishna Kumar, learned Counsel appearing for the third respondent.
The counsel for the petitioner has pointed out that as per the Rules, Regulation Status and Act of the University, paragraph No. 11 deals with
the Associate Professor its pay scale and its qualifications and eligibility and the method of recruitment.
Perused the same. In the instant case, the point for determination is whether the University has followed its own notification and the rules while
selecting the third respondent and ignoring the candidature of the petitioner.
Point:
The notification as well as the rules clearly says that the person who possess the Ph.D. degree with 5 years experience in teaching/research in the
concerned subject is eligible.
In the instant case, the contention of the petitioner is that he is the person with Ph.D. decree doing teaching and research in the concerned
subject and was not selected.
At this stage, it is relevant to verify the contentions of the respondent in the counter. The respondent has clearly admitted in the counter that the
petitioner obtained Ph.D. degree in Fishery Microbiology in the year 1994 whereas the third respondent obtained Ph.D. in Aquaculture in the year
1996.
Therefore, it is clear that the petitioner has obtained Ph.D. in 1994 whereas two years later the third respondent has obtained Ph.D.
Further, the petitioner obtained Ph.D. in Fishery Microbiology whereas the respondent obtained Ph.D. in Aquaculture, this Court has verified
the Fishery Microbiology and the Aquaculture to know what is the part of the Post Graduate degree in Fish Processing Technology.
Through the additional type set the petitioner has filed the syllabus of the University for the Ph.D. decree programmes. This was not denied by
the respondent. Therefore, the Court has verified the same.
Department of Aquaculture deals with the following subjects:
II DEPARTMENT OF AQUACULTURE
Sl. Course Title Credit Hours Semester in
No. No. which offered
1 FAQ 121 Inland aquaculture 2+1 II
2 FAQ 122 Aquaculture 2+1 II
3 FAQ 211 Fish genetics 2+1 III
4 FAQ 222 Fish seed production and 2+1 IV
hatchery management
5 FAQ 311 Coastal aquaculture 2+1 V
6 FAQ 322 Shrimp farming and hatchery 2+1 VI
management
7 FAQ 411 Fish pathology and 2+1 VII
parasitology
8 FBT 411 Fishery biotechnology 2+1 VII
9 AHU 311 Livestock production and 2+1 V
management
IV department deals with the following:
IV DEPARTMENT OF FISH PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
Sl. Course Title Credit Hours Semester in
No. No. which offered
1 FBC 111 Fishery biochemistry 2+1 I
2 FMI 121 Fishery microbiology 2+1 II
3 FPT 211 Fish curing 2+1 III
4 FPT 222 Fish canning 2+1 IV
5 FPT 222 Fish freezing 2+1 IV
6 FPT 321 Fish by-products 2+1 VI
7 FFM 321 Microbiology of fish and 2+1 VI
fishery management
8 FBC 321 Fish in nutrition 2+1 VI
9 FPT 411 Quality control, food laws 2+1 VII
and management
10 FPT 411 Fishery products development 2+1 VII
Plain perusal of the above two tables clarify that the Department of Aquaculture is entirely different department from that of Fish Processing
Technology Department.
In the instant case, we are concerned with the Fish Processing Technology because the University intended to appoint an Associate Professor
in the said department and notification was issued for filling up the said vacancy. In IV syllabus at Serial No. 2, Course No. FMI 121 deals with
Fishery Microbiology and it is in Department of Fish Processing Technology. The respondent/University admitted that the petitioner had obtained
Ph.D. degree in the said Fishery Microbiology. Therefore, it is established that the petitioner has obtained Ph.D. from the department of Fish
Processing Technology and it is the Ph.D. in Fish Microbiology.
While so, the Aquaculture is not one of the course or subject as far as the department of Fish Processing Technology is concerned and on the
other, it is entirely a different department. The syllabus II deals with Department of Aquaculture and at Serial No. 2 FAQ 122 Aquaculture is
mentioned.
Therefore, it is clear that the third respondent has obtained Ph.D. from the department of Aquaculture but not in the subject of Fish Processing
Technology.
Further, the internal communication of the University dated 10.10.2000 disclosing the allotment of Course No, Title and Course Teacher for
the common syllabus etc. discloses that at Page No. 2 that Fish Harvesting and Processing Technology wherein, it is clearly mentioned that the
Fish Microbiology and the fundamentals of the Microbiology are part and parcel of the said research work under Fish Harvesting and Processing
Technology whereas in paragraph No. 3 of the annexure the Aquaculture was dealt in detail and the place of Aquaculture are the subjects for
research under Aquaculture.
Therefore, through the documents of the University, it is clearly established that the petitioner is possessing all required qualifications having
obtained Ph.D. degree in Fishery Microbiology and working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fish Processing Technology and he
has also obtained Ph.D. in the same subject 2 years prior to the third respondent and the third respondent has obtained Ph.D. from other subjects.
Thus, the important facts are ignored by the Selection Committee and the third respondent was selected.
The argument of the counsel for the University that since there is a punishment of stoppage is awarded for the petitioner his case is not
considered. It is without any merit because in the instant case the post is intended to be filled up through direct recruitment and not by promotion.
The department action if any required to be considered for in service and not from direct recruitment. When a person has been applied in response
to the notification and seeking direct recruitment, the stoppage of increment will not in any disqualify him. Apart from that when the petitioner has
made an application, he was called for interview and he was interviewed. The University should have rejected the case of the petitioner, if he is
facing any disciplinary action. The alleged misconduct is not a serious one.
Thus, ignoring his qualification as well as seniority which is against to the spirit of their own notification and the syllabus and also the rules and
regulations of service.
For all the foregoing reasons, I am of the opinion that the petitioner is entitled for appointment as an Associate Professor and therefore, the first
and second respondents are directed to appoint him forthwith even if necessary by cancelling the appointment of third respondent as it has been
made against to the rules and regulations of the University Rules and against to the notification issued by the University.
Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed as prayed for with costs of Rs. 5,000/-.