Allahabad High Court

Dr. Anupama Yadav And Another vs State Of U.P. And 3 Others on 5 March, 2025

Author: Saurabh Shyam Shamshery

Bench: Saurabh Shyam Shamshery





HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
 
 


Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC:30972
 
Judgment Reserved on 17.2.2025
 
Delivered on  5.3.2025
 

 
Court No. - 10
 
Case :- WRIT - A No. - 20881 of 2024
 
Petitioner :- Dr. Anupama Yadav And Another
 
Respondent :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others
 
Counsel for Petitioner :- Siddharth Khare,Sr. Advocate
 
Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.,Rohit Pandey
 

 
Hon'ble Saurabh Shyam Shamshery,J.

1. Heard Sri Ashok Khare, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Sri Kauntey Singh, learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri Rohit Pandey, learned counsel for the respondent University.

2. It is admitted case of the petitioners and respondent University that they are working as Lecturers in Department of Education (Bachelor of Education) being appointed in pursuance of an advertisement since 2006 being a self financed course.

3. In pursuance of an earlier litigation, petitioners have been paid salary in regular pay scale and they have also been granted benefit of recommendation of VIth Pay Commission also and presently they are receiving about Rs.1 lakh per month.

4. Learner Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of petitioners submitted that by impugned Office Memorandum dated 30.11.2024, it was decided that their Honorarium be reduced to Rs.30,000/- per month since December, 2024, which is a drastic reduction and therefore, they are aggrieved. Learned Senior Counsel further submitted that such action is arbitrary and was taken without assigning any substantial reason. For reference impugned order 30.11.2024 in its entirety is reproduced hereinafter

"दिनांक 24-1072024 को अपराह्न 04:00 बजे सेन्टर ऑफ एकेडमिक भवन में माननीय कुलपति जी की अध्यक्षता के विश्वविद्यालय परिसर में स्वक्तिपोषित योजनान्तर्गत संचालित बैचलर ऑफ एजूकेशन विभाग (बी०एड० विभाग) एवं संगीत विभाग (स्ववित्पोषित) में प्राप्त होने वाली आय एवं व्यय की समीक्षा हेतु एक बैठक आहुत की गयी जिसमें विश्वविद्यालय के कुलसचिव, वित्त अधिकारी एवं निदेशक / विभागाध्यक्ष स्कूल ऑफ टीचर एजूकेशन (डॉ० रश्मि गोरे) उपस्थित रहे। उक्त बैठक में शासनादेश दिनाक 13 मार्च 2020 का अवलोकन किया गया व वित्त अधिकारी द्वारा दोनो विभागों मे शिक्षण शुल्क से प्राप्त होने वाली आय एवं उसके सापेक्ष हो रहे व्यय का विवरण प्रस्तुत किया गया जिसमे यह तथ्य प्रकाश में आया कि स्ववित्तपोषित योजनान्तर्गत संचालित बी०एड० विभाग एवं संगीत विभाग की वित्तीय वर्ष 2024-25 में प्राप्त कुल प्राप्त आय एवं व्यय में आसमानता है तथा आय के सापेक्ष में शिक्षकों के वेतन भुगतान मतें उक्त सत्र में काफी अधिक व्यय हो रहा है। अतः उक्त के क्रम में मा० कुलपति जी के आदेशानुसार निम्नवत आदेश निर्गत किए जाते है-

1- विश्वविद्यालय में स्वक्ति पोषित योजनान्तर्गत संचालित बैचलर ऑफ एजूकेशन (बी०एड०) विभाग की वर्तमान आर्थिक स्थिति के अनुसार बी०एड० विभाग में कार्यरत सभी शिक्षकों को माह दिसम्बर 2024 से वेतन के रूप में रू० 30,000/- प्रति माह प्रदान किया जाएगा।

2-विश्वविद्यालय के संगीत विभाग मे अन्तर्गत संचालित वादन (सित्तार) के परास्नातक पाठ्यक्रम में विद्यार्थियों के अत्यन्त अल्प पंजीकरण के दृष्टिगत स्वक्तिपोषित पाठयक्रमों हेतु निर्गत शासनादेश दिनांक 13 मार्च 2020 के आलोक मे वाद न (सितार) हेतु आबद्ध शिक्षक की आबद्वता दिनांक 01 दिसम्बर 2024 से समाप्त की जाती हैं यदि भविष्य मे शैक्षणिक कार्य हेतु आवश्यक हो तो उनकी सेवा अतिथि व्याख्याता के रूप में सक्षम स्तर से अनुमोदनोपरान्त प्राप्त की जा सकती है।

3-विश्वविद्यालय मे स्वक्तिपोषित योजनान्तर्गत संचालित संगीत विभाग की आर्थिक स्थिति के अनुसार विभाग के नियत वेतन पर आबद्ध शिक्षकों वादन (सितार) के शिक्षक को छोडकर को माह दिसम्बर 2024 से मानदेय के रूप में रू0 30,000/- प्रति माह प्रदान किये जायेंगे।

4 दोनों विभाग (बैचलर ऑफ एजूकेशन) व (संगीता विभाग) के सभी शिक्षकों द्वारा मिलकर विभागों की छात्र संख्या व आय बढाने पर कार्य किया जाएगा तथा उक्तानुसार निर्धारित किया गया वेतन दिनांक 31 अगस्त 2025 तक लागू रहेगा। तदोपरान्त समीक्षा किए जाने पर यदि आय में इतनी बढ़ोत्तरी हो जाती है कि उनका वेतन पूर्ववत किया जा सके तथा बीच की अवधि के एरियर का भुगतान भी किया जा सके तो उस पर पुनः विचार किया जाएगा।

पूर्व निर्गत कार्यालय ज्ञाप संख्या- सी.एस.जे.एम.वि.वि./पा.स्व. वि.पो.पा./270/2024 दिनांक 27.11.2024 को उक्त सीमा तक संशोधित समझा व पढा जाए।"

5. Learned Senior Counsel referred a Government Order dated 13.3.2020 in regard to distribution of funds received from the fee of students of a particular course. For reference, relevant part of it is reproduced hereinafter:

"6-शिक्षकों/शिक्षणेत्तर कर्मचारियों के वेतन एवं परिलब्धियों के सम्बन्ध में-

(1) स्ववित्तपोषित पाठ्यक्रमों की सम्बद्धता, छात्रों की संख्या, प्रवेश प्रक्रिया, शिक्षकों की भर्ती शुल्क निर्धारित एवं परीक्षा आदि से सम्बन्धित कार्य विश्व विद्यालय के स्तर से व्यवहृत किया जाता है। कार्यरत शिक्षकों एवं शिक्षणेत्तर कर्मचारियों के न्यूनतमवेतन का निर्धारण सम्बन्धित विश्वविद्यालय द्वारा अनिवार्यतः किया जायेगा। किसी पाठ्यक्रम में छात्रों के शिक्षण शुल्क से प्राप्त होने वाली आय का कम से कम 75 प्रतिशत अंश उस पाठ्यक्रम विशेष के शिक्षकों एवं शिक्षणेत्तर कर्मचारियों के वेतन आदि पर खर्च किया जायेगा। शिक्षकों एवं शिक्षणेत्तर कर्मचारियों को देय वेतन उस पाठ्यक्रम के लिये निर्धारित शिक्षण शुल्क तथा सीटों की संख्या पर निर्भर करेगा। इस सम्बन्ध में प्रतिवर्ष आडिट सम्पन्न कराकर आडिट आख्या में इस आशय का विशेष उल्लेख किया गया कि आय कि आय का 75 प्रतिशत अंश शिक्षकों/ शिक्षणेत्तर कर्मचारियों के वेतन आदि पर खर्च किया जा रहा है।

(2) शिक्षकों एवं शिक्षणेत्तर कर्मचारियों को दिये जाने वाले वेतन का भुगतान उनके बैंक खातें में आनलाइन कराया जायेगा।"

6. Learned Senior Counsel further referred paragraphs 38 and 45 of writ petition which are also reproduced hereinafter:

"38. That there exists other self finance institutes of the respondent University namely, University Institute of Engineering and Pharmacy, School of Bio-Science and Bio-Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Journalism and Mass Communication and School of Health Science.

45. That there does not exist any justification for computing the funds of self finance courses individually with reference to individual courses/ departments. In fact, it is incumbent upon the respondents to take into account the entire funds generated from all the departments having recognized under self finance scheme."

7. Per Contra learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent University referred the impugned order and submitted that since the course is runned under a self financed scheme and petitioners are working on Honorarium basis, therefore the institution cannot grant them salary beyond their finance and in case financial condition improves they will be given arrears also, therefore, in such circumstances no mandamus can be issued. Number of intake of students in concerned course has drastically reduced.

8. I have considered the above submissions and perused the records.

9. It is not under dispute that petitioners are working for last more than 18 to 19 years and their Honorarium was gradually increased from Rs.Thirteen thousand to Rs.1 lakh per month and they are maintaining a particular standard of living, therefore, by decreasing their Honorarium to Rs.Thirty Thousand per month in one stroke would definitely disturb their financial status as well as their mental peace also.

10. Even after observing above, Court cannot ignore that this is a self financed course and source of income is only the fees generated from the students and as pointed out that number of students is gradually decreasing, therefore, institution is facing financial constraint, which is the main reason to reduce Honorarium. The argument that fee generated from all courses be consolidated could not be accepted since it would amount to interfere with financial matter of a University being not permissible except in extraordinary circumstances.

11. In the aforesaid circumstances, Court cannot issue a mandamus that the institution continue to pay Honorarium to the petitioners of Rs.1 lakh since it depends upon the financial position of the institution which has not been much disputed on the basis of records available, therefore, impugned order at this stage cannot be interfered with.

12. However, since it is an institution of Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, Kanpur and petitioners are working for last more than 18 to 19 years therefore it is incumbent upon them to maintain amount of Honorarium and for that to take endeavour to strengthen their financial condition and therefore, they are directed to take appropriate steps specifically that this Court has earlier passed order for increase of their Honorarium i.e. to pay in regular pay scale (See Dr. Sachin Kumar Srivastava and Ors. Vs. State of U.P. & Ors, Writ-A No.65736 of 2007 decided on 27.3.2016), which remained unchallenged.

13. At this stage, Court also takes note of the vision of the concerned University which is to enlighten and empower humanity by nurturing future leaders and change agents for universal development and societal transformation. To work towards sustainable excellence in global standards of academia, technology-centric learning, robust research ecosystem, institutional distinctiveness and harmonious social diversity. The Court hopes that to give proper honorarium to petitioners would also be a step to achieve its object and mission.

14. Court also takes note of Chapter VI (Finance Committee) of First Statute of the University, that it may also look into the matter to increase the strength of students for the concerned course and if necessary, petitioners be shifted to some other course in according to their educational qualification so that they may not face financial crisis.

15. Court also takes note that in the impugned order, the University has assured that in case finance is generated, their Honorarium will be inreased and arrears will also b e given. The decision being based on a documents of their finance department, which could not be much disputed therefore, without interfering with the impugned order, this writ petition is disposed of with above observations.

Order Date :- 5.3.2025