[Cites 1, Cited by 0]
Kerala High Court
Shiby M. Thomas vs University Of Calicut on 5 December, 2025
Author: N.Nagaresh
Bench: N.Nagaresh
2025:KER:94412
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH
FRIDAY, THE 5TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025/14TH AGRAHAYANA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 38955 OF 2025
PETITIONER:
SHIBY M. THOMAS,
AGED 53 YEARS,
S/O. THOMAS, 53/376,
MADAPPILLIKUNNEL, B.G.ROAD,
WEST HILL P.O.,
KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673005
BY ADVS.
SRI.C.K.SREEJITH
SRI.BABU THOMAS(PERUMATTIKUNNEL)
RESPONDENTS:
1 UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT,
OFFICE OF THEVICE-CHANCELLOR,
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O.,
MALAPPURAM,
REPRESENTED BY ITS VICE-CHANCELLOR,
PIN - 673635
2 CALICUT UNIVERSITY SYNDICATE,
REPRESENTED BY VICE CHANCELLOR
CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O.,
MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673635
BY ADV.
SRI.P.C.SASIDHARAN, SC
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 05.12.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2025:KER:94412
W.P.(C) No.38955/2025
:2:
JUDGMENT
Dated this the 5th day of December, 2025
The petitioner is working as an Associate Professor in
the Department of Economics at St. Joseph's College
(Autonomous), Devagiri, Kozhikode. The petitioner has been
recommended by the Selection Committee for promotion to the
post of Professor on 22.03.2025 with retrospective effect from
01.12.2024.
2. The petitioner submitted that as per the
Minutes, the Selection Committee forwarded the
recommendation for the post of Professor to the University of
Calicut on 07.04.2025 under file No.Esst/TS/(SMT)/275/2025.
The proposal was subsequently placed before the Standing
Committee of the Syndicate for the approval on 22.09.2025
2025:KER:94412
under file No.85628/GA-II-SPECIAL-CELL-II-ASST-2/2025/
Admn(I). But, the Standing Committee deferred the petitioner's
proposal without citing any specific reasons. The selection
process was conducted by a panel of experts in the subject who
meticulously verified and assessed the petitioner's research
publications and all relevant documents.
3. The Selection Committee's recommendation
was strictly in accordance with the UGC Regulations, 2018 and
the subsequent University Order U.O.No.1335/2022/Admn.
dated 18.01.2022. In Ext.P2, the University has issued
guidelines for the placement / promotion to the post of
Professor. The petitioner's proposal for the post of Professor
was conclusively addressed and clarified by the learned Director
of Internal Quality Assurance, University of Calicut (IQAC)
whose official opinion affirmed the observation of the
recommendation of the Selection Committee holding merit for
promotion of the petitioner. The continued and indefinite deferral
2025:KER:94412
of the petitioner's proposal for the post of Professor is causing
professional prejudice and directly hinders the fundamental right
to apply for higher academic or administrative posts that require
a professorship qualification. Almost 6 months have elapsed
since the submission of the proposal to the University.
4. The last Syndicate Standing Committee
meeting held on 22.09.2025 has considered the issue and the
same was deferred indefinitely without any reason whereas the
claim of other applicants were approved. After deferring the
request by the Standing Committee of Syndicate, the petitioner
has submitted a request before the Vice Chancellor highlighting
his grievances and seeking to take a decision in a time bound
manner. The petitioner is highly aggrieved by the inordinate
delay.
5. I have heard the learned counsel for the
petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel representing the
respondents.
2025:KER:94412
6. Standing Counsel representing the
respondents submitted that regarding submission of papers on
the journals, there were some difficulties and now a decision
has been taken based on which the papers of the petitioner can
be considered for the purpose of promotion.
7. The facts being so, I am of the view that the
writ petition can be disposed of with appropriate direction.
The writ petition is therefore disposed of directing the
2nd respondent to consider the case of the petitioner and take
appropriate decision thereon within a period of one month.
Sd/-
N. NAGARESH
JUDGE
SR
2025:KER:94412
APPENDIX OF WP(C) NO. 38955 OF 2025
PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:
Exhibit P1 THE TRUE COPY OF THE MINUTES DT.
22/3/2025 RECOMMENDING HIM THE
PROMOTION TO THE POST OF PROFESSOR
LEVEL 14 (AGP) 10000, AS PER THE UGC
REGULATION, 2018.
Exhibit P2 THE TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGE OF
UGC REGULATION IN THE SUBJECT MATTER.
Exhibit P3 THE TRUE COPY OF RELEVANT PAGE OF
NOTIFICATION DT. 18/7/2018 ISSUED BYTHE
UNIVERSITY GOVERNING PROMOTION FROM THE
POST OF ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR TO PROFESSOR
Exhibit P4 THE TRUE COPY OF THE IQAC
RECOMMENDATION (INTERNAL QUALITY
ASSURANCE, UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT)
NO.85628/GA-II-SPECIAL-CELL-II-ASST-
2/2025/ADMN(1) AND NOTE TO THE STANDING
COMMITTEE DT. 20/9/2025.
Exhibit P5 THE TRUE COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE
MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE DT.
22/9/2025.
Exhibit P6 THE TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DT.
30/9/2025 THROUGH EMAIL.
