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Judgment
Elipe Dharma Rao, J.—Both these Writ Appeals are directed against the order passed by the learned single Judge of this Court in W.P. No.
12276 of 1997, dated 31.8.2006. For the sake of convenience and for easy reference, the parties are referred to as per their ranking in the writ
petition.
The Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madras, had issued Advertisement No. 1/96, dated 4.6.1996 in ''Daily Thanthi''
Tamil newspaper, calling for applications for various posts in the University. In the said advertisement, they have called for applications for one
post of Associate Professor in Fish Processing Technology in the Fisheries Faculty in the pay scale of Rs. 3700-125-4950-150-5700. It is a
Group-A Post and the recruitment is by open category. As per the said advertisement, the qualification for the post of Associate Professor, as
prescribed in the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Regulations, is Ph.D. Degree with five years of experience in
teaching/research in the concerned subject. It has also been mentioned that ''for University Training and Research Centres/Research Farms,
persons with basic degree of B.V. Sc. with Masters and Doctorate degrees in any branch of Veterinary and Animal Sciences including Basic
Sciences can apply.''
Dr. G. Jeyasekaran/the writ petitioner was the Assistant Professor in the Department of Fish Processing Technology, Fisheries College and
Research Institute, Tuticorin. He did his Masters Degree in M.F.Sc. and also did Ph.D in Fisheries Microbiology under Fish Processing
Technology Department. Dr. C.B.T. Rajagopalasamy/the third respondent was the Assistant Professor in the Department of Fisheries Biology and
Capture Fisheries, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tuticorin. In response to the said advertisement, both the petitioner and third
respondent, including some other candidates have applied and interview was conducted on 26.6.1997. According to the petitioner, the third
respondent was not at all qualified to the post of Associate Professor and only himself and one Velayutham were qualified to hold the said post,
but, the University Authorities, without adhering to the rules and regulations, have appointed the third respondent to the post of Associate
Professor and appointed the said Velayutham as the Professor without fulfilling the basic qualifications for the post of Professor. Therefore, he
challenged the selection of the third respondent to the post of Associate Professor by filing W.P. No. 12276 of 1997 and since the learned single
Judge of this Court has allowed the said writ petition, while the University preferred W.A. No. 1541 of 2006, the third respondent in the writ
petition viz. Dr. C.B.T. Rajagopalasamy has preferred WA.1151 of 2007.
The writ petitioner has stated in his affidavit filed in the writ petition that after selecting Dr. P. Velayutham to the Post of Professor, he was the
only eligible candidate left in the field of Fish Processing Technology and after attending the interview, he submitted a letter enclosing (1) willingness
undertaking and (ii) M.F.Sc./Ph.D. Guidance certificate to the Dean, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tuticorin on 31.7.1997 as per the
circular of the University. But, he was not selected, whereas the third respondent was selected. He would further submit that the third respondent
did not have the prescribed five years experience in research in the concerned subject viz. ''Fish Processing Technology'', rather he put less than
three years experience which could be seen from his service records. The third respondent did not also have teaching experience in the concerned
subject viz. ''Fish Processing Technology'' and no courses were offered by the third respondent in Fish Processing Technology to the students. The
third respondent has only M.F.Sc. Degree in Fisheries Science with thesis specialization in Aqua Culture and Ph.D. Degree in Aqua Culture and
neither guided any M.F.Sc. Student in the concerned subject of Fish Processing Technology nor undergone any advance training in the concerned
subject of Fish Processing Technology''.
The petitioner would further submit that he has been working in the Department of Fish Processing Technology ever since his appointment on
26.9.1986, but the third respondent was working in another Department/Subject i.e. Department of Fisheries Biology.
It has also been submitted that the Vice-Chancellor of the University, before nominating Dr. R. Santhanam, Professor and Head, Department of
Fisheries Environment, as one of the three members in the Selection Committee for conducting the interview for the post of Associate Professor in
the field of Fish Processing Technology failed to see that as per Appendix-IA of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Regulations, such nomination of member should be only from the Head of the Department concerned and not from any other Department and
therefore, the Vice-Chancellor has simply ignored the University Regulations and nominated such persons on his own choice. The petitioner has
stated that in appointing the third respondent, the respondents 1 and 2 had shown favouritism and being the highest authorities in the University, the
respondents 1 and 2 cannot be permitted to flout the rules, norms and procedures of the University, by showing nepotism.
The second respondent/Registrar of the University has filed a counter affidavit, denying all the allegations of the petitioner and further submitting
that the Selection Committee for the post of Associate Professor in the Fisheries Faculty was constituted as per Appendix I(A) of the University
Regulations by the Vice-Chancellor and a Screening Committee was also constituted as per the Regulations to scrutinise applications received
from the candidates. As per the Screening Committee report, there were only six eligible candidates, who were called to attend the interview for
the post of Associate Professor in the field of Fish Processing Technology and out of them, only five candidates attended the interview. The
qualification fixed in the Advertisement, particularly the requirement of basic degree B.F.Sc. and Specialisation in the concerned subject were
relaxed by the Board by its 26th meeting held on 21.3.1997, after considering the in-service candidates, who were in service as on 3.11.1989.
The specialisation in the Post Graduate course was introduced only from the academic year 1991-92 and therefore, taking note of the plight of the
staff working in the Fisheries College and Research Institute, the Board relaxed the basic degree/ specialisation requirement. It has also been stated
that Dr. P. Velayutham had completed 10 years experience as on 30.6.1986 and since he had applied for the posts of Professor and Associate
Professor, the Selection Committee selected Dr. P. Velayutham as Professor in the discipline of Fish Processing Technology. The third respondent
completed his PG Degree prior to 1991-92 and had 10 years and 2 months experience, whereas the petitioner had only 7 years and 7 months
experience as on 30.6.1996, excluding Ph.D. study period.
The second respondent would further submit that the petitioner had specialisation in the field of Industrial Fishery Technology and the 3rd
respondent had in the field of Fisheries Science and both of them completed PG course prior to 1991-92. It has also been submitted that the
petitioner was awarded the punishment of stoppage of increments for three years without cumulative effect for his unauthorised absence without
obtaining proper relief from the University while he was proceeding for Ph.D. Degree and therefore, the Selection Committee found the third
respondent as suitable for the post of Associate Professor of the Fish Processing Technology. The specialisation in the Post Graduate level
introduced only from the academic year 1991-92 and therefore, the petitioner cannot complain that no members from the same discipline
nominated in the Selection Committee and Dr. Santhanam is senior most Professor and had experience in the Fisheries field for more than 18 years
and therefore, the question of ignoring the University Regulations does not arise; that the Selection Committee consists of six members, who are
highly responsible officers of the University and therefore, there is no chance of showing any favouritism to a particular individual. It has also been
submitted that the petitioner was appointed as Associate Professor by the Order in U.S.O. No. 60132/RIII/01, Roc. No. 4755/RIII/2000, dated
13.3.2002.
As has already been adverted to supra, the qualification prescribed for the post of Associate Professor in Fish Processing Technology is Ph.D.
Degree with five years of experience in teaching/research in the concerned subject. Therefore, the writ petitioner would contend that ''concerned
subject'' mentioned in the advertisement is Fish Processing Technology and since the third respondent is not qualified in the Fish Processing
Technology, the University ought not to have appointed the third respondent.
In this backdrop, now, we have to see the comparative table of qualifications of both the petitioner and the third respondent. In para No. 8 of
the counter affidavit filed by the respondents 1 and 2, the qualifications, experience etc. of the petitioner and the third respondent are furnished as
follows:
Dr. G. Jeyasekaran Dr. C.B.T. Rajagopalasamy
(Petitioner) (3rd respondent)
(Date of Joining: 26.9.19867) (Date of Joining 28.4.1986)
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. Acquaculture 1996
The writ petitioner would also submit a comparative statement thereby submitting that while he had research experience for a period of 10
years and 9 months and Teaching experience for a period of 7 years and 10 months in Fish Processing Technology, the third respondent is having
research experience only for a period of three years, that too without any teaching experience. It has also been submitted that while the petitioner
submitted three international papers and 12 national papers in Fish Processing Technology, the third respondent has submitted only three national
papers with nil international papers and that that while the petitioner achieved seven awards/Fellowships, the third respondent had only two awards
to his credit.
The respondents 1 and 2, in their counter affidavit, submitted that the Board of Management relaxed the basic degree/specialisation
requirements during its meeting held on 21.3.1997 and accordingly, the Selection Committee selected the third respondent as Associate Professor.
At this juncture, it is apt to quote Regulation No. 5(5) of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Regulations, which reads
as follows:
Where necessary, the Selection Committee may with the approval of the Board relax the minimum requirements/qualifications in favour of
candidates who are otherwise considered as qualified for selection.
The learned senior counsel for the writ petitioner would contend that once the selection process commenced, the prescribed qualification
cannot be changed. For this purpose, he would rely on a judgment of the Honourable Apex Court in Secretary, A.P. Public Service Commission
Vs. B. Swapna and Others, , wherein Their Lordships of the Honourable Apex Court have held:
Once a process of selection starts, the prescribed selection criteria cannot be changed. The logic behind the same is based on fair play. A person
who did not apply because a certain criterion e.g. Minimum percentage of marks, can make a legitimate grievance, in case the same is lowered,
that he could have applied because he possessed the said percentage. Rules regarding qualification for appointment if amended during continuance
of the process of selection do not affect the same. That is because every statute or statutory rule is prospective unless it is expressly or by
necessary implication made to have retrospective effect....
But, this judgment of the Honourable Apex Court is very well distinguishable from the facts of the case on hand. In the case before the
Honourable Apex Court, the Public Service Commission Rule, which was prevalent on the date of notification was that the ranking list prepared by
the Commission for selection in a direct recruitment shall remain in force for a period of one year from the date on which the selection list is
published or till the publication of the new selection list, whichever is earlier and the Commission may select candidates from ranking list in force in
place of those who relinquish the selection or who do not join duty. Accordingly, a rank list was prepared and the applicant therein was kept in
wait list. But, subsequently, the above said Rule was amended mentioning that the list of the candidates approved/selected by the Commission shall
be equal to the number of vacancies only and the fallout vacancies, if any due to relinquishment and non-joining etc. of selected candidates shall be
notified in the next recruitment. As a result of amendment to the recruitment rules and application of the same to the already commenced
recruitment process, the chances of the wait listed candidates to get appointment vanished. Only in such circumstances, the Honourable Apex
Court has observed that ''once a process of selection starts, the prescribed selection criteria cannot be changed''. But, in the case on hand, even by
the time the notification was issued, the above quoted Regulation No. 5(5) of the Tami Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Regulations was in existence and it was not brought by any amendment, after commencement of the selection process, so as to deprive anybody''s
chance of appointment.
The learned Counsel for the third respondent and the University would strenuously argue that in academic matters, the decisions as to the
qualifications and eligibility shall be best left with the expert body and the Courts should not interfere in such matters. In support of their arguments,
the learned Counsel would rely on a judgment of the Honourable Apex Court in V.K. Sood Vs. Secretary, Civil Aviation and others, . In this
judgment, the appellant therein challenged the qualifications prescribed for the post of Examiner of Personnel in the Department of Civil Aviation as
discriminatory and tailor made. He contended that the qualifications contained in 1969 Rules were amended in 1978 with a view to exclude him.
Dismissing the said appeal, the Honourable Apex Court has held:
It is for the expert body and the Supreme Court does not have the assistance of experts. Moreover, it is for the rule-making authority or for the
Legislature to regulate the method of recruitment, prescribe qualifications, etc.
Likewise, the learned Counsel appearing for the respondents would also rely on another judgment of the Honourable Apex Court in
Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education and Another Vs. Paritosh Bhupeshkumar Sheth and Others, . In the said
judgment, the question canvassed was whether, under law, a candidate has a right to demand inspection, verification and revaluation of answer
books and whether the statutory regulations framed by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education governing the
subject insofar as they categorically state that there shall be no such right, can be said to be ultra vires, unreasonable and void. The High Court of
Bombay has held that the Rules of the Board declining such opportunity to the students are ultra vires of the Constitution. In those circumstances,
the Honourable Apex Court has held:
As has been repeatedly pointed out by this Court, the Court should be extremely reluctant to substitute its own views as to what is wise, prudent
and proper in relation to academic matters in preference to those formulated by professional men possessing technical expertise and rich
experience of actual day-to-day working of educational institutions and the departments controlling them. It will be wholly wrong for the Court to
make a pedantic and purely idealistic approach to the problems of this nature, isolated from the actual realities and grass root problems involved in
the working of the system and unmindful of the consequences which would emanate if a purely idealistic view as opposed to a pragmatic one were
to be propounded. It is equally important that the Court should also, as far as possible, avoid any decision or interpretation of a statutory provision,
rule or bye-law which would bring about the result of rendering the system unworkable in practice.
The learned Counsel for the respondents would cite an unreported judgment of the First Bench of this Court in S. Rajendran v. State of Tamil
Nadu W.A. No. 3439 of 2004, dated 18.2.2005, wherein the First Bench of this Court, relying on the above said two judgments of the
Honourable Apex Court, has held in para No. 7 as follows:
While exercising the power of judicial review over a decision of the University in the matter of selection and appointment, the court does not sit as
an appellate authority. It is not possible either to direct or advise the expert bodies to deviate from the method evolved inconsistent with the rules
or regulations for selection and appointment to a post. As the University or the educational institutions, for that matter, are responsible for their
standards, it would be better to leave the discretion to select and appoint the best of the teachers to the University and educational institutions
concerned. The court would interfere in such matters only if it is shown that the authorities have exercised their powers in disregard to the minimum
qualification prescribed for a post or acted in an arbitrary manner.
The Selection Committee for the appointment of the post of Associate Professor consists of the following members:
a) Vice Chancellor : Chairman
b) Two external experts nominated by the
Vice-Chancellor among the panel of
external experts approved by the
Board Members : Members
c) Faculty Dean : Member
d) Director concerned : Member
e) Head of the Department concerned : Member
Thus, the said Selection Committee is an expert body containing professional men possessing technical expertise and rich experience of actual
day-to-day working of educational institutions and the departments controlling them. When, undoubtedly, the said Committee is having power to
relax the conditions under Regulation 5(5), in favour of a candidate, who is otherwise eligible and when we are unable to find any malafide intention
on the part of the said Committee to reject the claim of the petitioner, following the above judgments of the Honourable Apex Court, we hold that
the interference of this Court into such selection process adopted by the expert body is uncalled for since it is completely within the domain of the
said expert body to arrive at the conclusion that whether a candidate possessing Ph.D in Fishery Microbiology (like the petitioner) or even a
person possessing Ph.D. in Aquaculture (like the third respondent) could be appointed as Associate Professor (Fish Processing Technology) by
relaxing the conditions, since he is otherwise eligible, and this Court, while exercising its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India cannot act like a super expert over the decision of an expert body.
It has been brought to the notice of this Court that for the unauthorised absence of the petitioner, when the University has contemplated
disciplinary proceedings, the writ petitioner filed W.P. No. 14562 of 1992 before this Court and a learned single Judge of this Court, by the order
dated 13.9.1996, considering all the facts and circumstances of the case had altered the proposed punishment of stoppage of two increments with
cumulative effect to one of stoppage of increments without cumulative effect for a period of three years and directed the University to impose the
said punishment, further directing the writ petitioner to take note of the warning given by the Court for his future conducts. WMP. No. 7250 of
1996 filed by the petitioner seeking to consider his name for promotion to the higher post of Senior Assistant Professor and WMP. No. 12100 of
1996 for a direction to the University to interview the petitioner for the selection and appointment as Associate Professor (Fish Processing
Technology) were also turned down by the learned single Judge, as cannot be granted at that stage. It seems, the above said order of the learned
single Judge in W.P. No. 14562 of 1992 has become final. Therefore, it is clear that by the time the writ petitioner attended the interview for the
post of Associate Professor, the punishment was in operation and hence, there is every reason for the University in not considering the petitioner
for the said post of Associate Professor. Further more, it is also submitted by the respondents 1 and 2 in their counter that the petitioner was
appointed as Associate Professor by the Order in U.S.O. No. 60132/RIII/01, Roc. No. 4755/RIII/2000, dated 13.3.2002. Therefore, it is clear
that after completion of the punishment period and soon after a vacancy arose in the said category, the respondent/University has appointed the
petitioner as Associate Professor. In this entire scenario, we do not find any malafide intention or favouritism exhibited on the part of the
respondents, as has been falsely alleged on the part of the petitioner.
For all the above reasons, both these appeals are allowed, setting aside the order passed by the learned single Judge. No costs. Consequently,
W.A. Nos. 1541 of 2006 and 1151 of 2007 are closed.