Dr. Rashmi Srivastava Vs. Vikram University & Ors [1995] INSC 229 (20 April 1995)
Majmudar S.B. (J) Majmudar S.B. (J) Sawant, P.B. Majmudar, J.:
CITATION: 1995 AIR 1694 1995 SCC (3) 653 JT 1995 (4) 51 1995 SCALE (2)871
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
1. These two civil appeals arise out of a common judgment rendered by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Indore Bench on 23rd February, 1994. The High Court allowed two writ petitions against Vikram University and other contesting respondents. The contesting respondents after obtaining special leave to appeal fro this court have challenged the said common judgment of the High Court in these civil appeals.
2. A common question is involved in these appeals, namely, whether the University teachers who have been given merit promotion as Readers or Professors, as the case may be, can claim seniority over directly recruited Readers and Professors on the ground of continuous officiation in service as Readers or Professors. The High Court has taken the view that they are not entitled to claim such seniority and has accordingly allowed the writ petitions moved by the directly appointed Readers and Professors. The appellants before us are the promotee Readers and Professors under the merit promotion scheme.
Factual backdrop:
3. In order to appreciate the grievance voiced by the appellants, it is necessary to have a look at the relevant introductory facts leading to these proceedings.
1. Civil Appeal No.6001/94:
4. This appeal is moved by the appellant who was earlier working as Lecturer in the Department of Political Science in Vikram University, Ujjain. The said university, its Registrar and the Kulpati are respondents 1 to 3 in the appeal. A merit promotion scheme was formulated by the university Grants Commission (hereinafter referred to as 'Commission') which has been joined as respondent no. 5 in this appeal pursuant to notice issued by this court. The said scheme was promulgated in the year 1982. We will refer to the details of the said scheme in the latter part of this judgment. It is sufficient to say at this stage that the scheme was to provide opportunities for professional advancement of teachers working in the University and who merit academic recognition. Such teachers were to be given promotion on merits an not on the basis of seniority.
5.Under the said scheme the appellant was promoted to the post of Reader on 29th June, 1985. Respondent no.4 in this appeal who was the writ petitioner before the High Court in M.P.No.208/89 was appointed as Reader in the Department of Political Science as direct recruit. He was so appointed on 13th March, 1986. He was confirmed after a period of two years' probation. The respondent no. 1 university published seniority lists in the year November, 1986;
November, 1987 and the latest list in November, 1988 where under the appellant was shown as senior to respondent no.4. The appellant was placed at serial no. 14 while respondent no.4 was placed at serial no.33. That was presum- ably because the appellant worked as promotee reader from 29.6.1985 while respondent no.4 became reader by direct re- cruitment later on 13th March, 1986. Respondent no.4 being aggrieved by the said placement in the seniority list filed the aforesaid writ petition in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Indore on 17th January, 1989. The respondent no.4 prayed the the name of the appellant be deleted from the seniority list of Readers and also from the Board of Studies in Political Science and respondent no. 1 be directed to determine the seniority of Readers in accordance with Statute No. 16 and to give due seniority to the 4th respondent in the cadre of Readers. This petition was contested by the university as well as the appellant.As noted earlier the High Court accepted the case of respondent no.4 writ petitions and allowed the writ petition.
II. Facts leading to Civil Appeal No.6002/94:
6. The respondent no.4 in this appeal was the original writ petitioner before the High Court. He was appointed as Professor in Physics Department as direct recruit by respondent no. 1 Vikram University, Ujjain. Ills appointment was confirmed after a period of 2 years' probation on 28th March, 1988. The present appellants who were respondents no.4,5,8 & 9 in the said writ petition before the High Court and also original respondents 6 & 7 before the High Court who are respondents 5 & 6 in this appeal were all promoted under the merit promotion scheme formulated by the Commission as Professors in the School of Studies, Vikram University in various subjects. They were promoted on 12th March, 1986. As they were promoted a day earlier than the date on which respondent no.4 original writ petitioner respondent no.4 was appointed as direct recruit Professor in Physics Department, the appellants and respondents 5 & 6 were shown as senior to original writ petitioner. The seniority lists published by respondent no.
1 university in the years 1987 & 1988 reflected this position. Even in the later seniority list of 1989 the appellants were shown at serial no. 16, 18 & 20 in the se- niority list while the original writ petitioner was shown at serial no.22.
7. That brought respondent no.4 to the High Court by way of writ petition no. 1180/89. He challenged the seniority list on diverse grounds and prayed for the reliefs as under:- 1 . That the names of the present appellants and respondents 5 & 6 be deleted from the seniority list of Professors and also appointment of appellant no. 1 be quashed.
2. That the respondent no. 1 be directed to determine the seniority of Professors in accordance with the Statute no. 16 and to give due seniority to re- 60 spondent no.4 (original writ petitioner) in the cadre of Professors.
8. This petition was opposed by respondent no. 1 university and the contesting respondents. Respondent nos.2 & 3, the Commission and the State of Madhya Pradesh were also joined in the writ petition. They also contested these proceedings.
9. As noted earlier the aforesaid writ petitions raised a common question. They were heard together by the Division Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court. By its common judgment this writ petition was also allowed and that is how the appellants who were promotee Professors under the merit promotion scheme have file this appeal. As both these appeals raise common questions of law and facts, the were heard together and are being dispose of by this common judgment. In civil appeal no.6001/94 Professors working in various departments of University of Delhi have been joined as respondents 6 to 4 and 53 to 61 in the light of an interlocutory application which was granted. Similarly the Professors working in the different departments in the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi have also been joined as respondents 45 to 52 at their request. While respondent nos.62 to 90 are also permitted to be joined at their request in this appeal. They are Professors working in different schools of studies and sciences in this city.
10. In civil appeal no-6002/94 are joined additional respondents 1 to 19 out of whom additional respondents 1 to 3 are Professors working in Devi Ahilaya University, Indore while additional respondent 4 to 19 arc working as Readers in Dr.H.S.Gaur University, Sagar and one additional respondent Dr. S. Sivaraman is a Professor in Dr. H.S. Gaur University, Sagar. All these additional respondents are permitted to be joined as respondents at their request pursuant to interlocutory application numbers 2,3&4 moved by them and granted by the order dated 9.9.94. In addition to that there is I.A. no.5/95 in civil appeal no.6002/94 by which five applicants, working as Professors in various departments of Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi have also sought to be joined as respondents. The said application is treated to have been allowed and they will also be treated as additional respondents in this appeal.
III. Statutory Provisions;
11. Before we deal with the main question posed for our consideration, it will be profitable to have a look at the relevant statutory provisions governing the proceedings and the impact of the merit promotion scheme promulgated by the Commission which has brought the appellants in the arena of contest.
12. Respondent no. 1 university is governed by the Madhya Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyam, 1973. English translation thereof was furnished by learned counsel for the appellants. It is not in dispute that the various universities functioning in the State of Madhya Pradesh arc governed by the said Adhiniyam. Respondent no. 1 university is functioning at Ujjain, while Shivaji University is located at Gwallor. Sagar university to which some of the newly added respondents belong is situated at Sagar town of Madhya Pradesh.
13. We may at this stage usefully refer 61 to the relevant provisions of the Adhiniyam which have a bearing on the controversy before us. Clause (iv) of Section 4 defines an employee to mean any person appointed by the university and includes teachers and other staff of the university. Clause (v) defines Executive Council to mean Executive Council of the university. Clause (ix) deals with statutes, ordinances and regulations of the university, as the case may be, enforced for the time being. Clause (xviii) defines University Grants Commission to mean the Commission established under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. Clause (xx) defines teachers of the university to mean Professors, Readers, Lecturers and such other persons as have been appointed for imparting education and conducting research with the approval of the Academic Council in the University or any College or any institution maintained by the University. Section 6 deals with powers of the university. Clause (15) of Section 6 empowers the university to institute Professorships, Readerships, Lectureships and any other academic or teaching posts required by the University and to appoint persons to such posts in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Clause (3 1) of Section 6 deals with the power of the university to exercise control over the salaried officers, teachers and other employees of the University in accordance with the Statutes and the Ordinances. Section 19 deals with the authorities of the University which include amongst others Executive Council, Board of Studies, Academic Planning and Evaluation Board. Section 23 deals with the Executive Council. Its powers and duties are prescribed by Section
24. Clause (xx) of section 24 deals with the power of the executive Council to institute such Professorships, Readerships, Lectureships or other teaching posts as may be proposed by the Academic Planning and Evaluation Board. It is subject to the proviso that no teaching post shall be instituted without the prior approval of the Madhya Pradesh Uchcha Shiksha Anudan Ayog. Clause (xxxii) of Section 24 deals with the power of the Executive Council, save as otherwise provided by this Act, or the Statutes to appoint the officers other that the Kulpati, teachers and other employees of the University, to define their duties and the conditions of their service, and to provide for the filling of temporary vacancies in their posts. Clause (xiii), (xiiii) and (xiiv) of Section 24 refer to the powers of the Executive Council to entertain, adjudicate upon and if deemed fit to redress grievances of the employees and the students, to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act and to exercise all powers of the University not otherwise provided for in this Act or the Statutes and all other powers which are requisite to give effect to the provisions of this Act or the Statutes. Section 27 deals with various faculties of the University in which teaching can be imparted to the students. Section 28 deals with Board of Studies. Section 34 deals with Coordination Committee. Sub-section (iv) of Section 34 deals with powers and discharging of the functions by the Coordination Committee. Amongst others is found clause (v) which deals with consideration of matters of common interest to all or some of the Universities. Section 35 deals with Statutes.
Clause (1) provides for framing statutes regarding qualifications of Professors, Readers, Lecturers and other teachers in affiliated colleges and recognised institutions.
Clause (o) deals with the mode of determining seniority for the purpose of the Act.
62 Section 37 deals with Ordinances and states that subject to the provisions of the Act the Ordinances may provide for all or any of the matters listed in the section. At item 15 is found the topic of the duties, qualifications and conditions of appointment including pay scales of the teachers paid by the university.
14. Chapter IX of the Act deals with appointment of teaching post in the university. Section 49 is relevant for our present purpose. It is useful to extract it in extension.
"CHAPTER IX APPOINTMENT TO TEACHING POSTS IN THE UNIVERSITY
49. (1) No person shall be appointed:
(i) as a Professor, Reader, Lecturer; or (ii) to any other teaching post of the University paid by the University except on the recommendation of a committee of selection constituted in accordance with sub-section(2):
Provided that if appointment to any of the teaching posts aforesaid is not expected to continue for more than six months and cannot be delayed without detriment to the interest of the department or institution maintained by the University, the Executive Council may make such appointment without obtaining the recom- mendation of the committee of selection constituted under subsection (2) but the person so appointed, shall not be retained on the same post for a period exceeding six months or appointed to another post in the service of the University except on the recommendation of the said committee of selection.' Provided further that any such appointment purported to have been made under the proceeding proviso prior to the 13th day of February 1974 and continuing on such date shall continue till the 30th day of June, 1974 or the filling up of the post in accordance with sub-section (5), whichever is earlier.
(2) The members of the committee of selection shall be:
(i) the Kulapati Chairman.
(ii) omitted.
(ii) omitted.
(iii)one expert in the subject, not corrected with the University in any manner whatsoever to be nominated by the Academic Council.
(iv) Three experts, not connected with the University in any manner whatsoever nominated by the Kuladhipati.
(v) the Chairman of the Ayog or a member of the Ayog nominated by him.
(3) Omitted.
(4) The committee shall investigate the merits of the various candidates, and shall recommend to the Executive Council the names, if any, of persons whom it considers suitable for the posts, arranged in order of merit-.
Provided that no recommendation shall be made unless atleast three out of the experts nominated under clause (iii) and (iv) of sub- section (2) an present in the meeting in which such recommendation is to be decided upon.
(5) Out of the names so recommended under subsection (4) the Executive Council shall appoint persons in order of 63 merit .
15. Section 63 deals with classification of teachers. Sub- section(i) of Section 63 provides for Professors and Readers who are said to be teachers appointed by the Executive Council on the scales of pay not lower than that approved for Professors and Readers by the Commission and accepted by the State Government and when the scale of pay approved by the Commission is higher than that approved by the' State Government in this behalf then on the scale of pay as approved by the State Government. Section 64 deals with terms of office of members of authority of the university.
Sub-section(1) of Section 64 lays down that wherever in ac- cordance with this Act, any person is to hold an office or to be a member of any authority by rotation according to seniority such seniority in the absence of any provisions to the contrary in the Act, shall be determined in accordance with the Statutes:
Provided that till the Statutes are made the seniority in a particular cadre shall be determined by the length of con- tinuous service in such a cadre and where the length of continuous service of two or more persons in the same cadre is the same, then 'Seniority' shall be determined by se- niority in age.
16. Apart from the aforesaid relevant act provisions, Statute 16 and Ordinance no.4 have a direct bearing on the questions posed for our consideration. It is therefore necessary to note them at this stage, Ordinance no.4 issued as Madhya Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya First Ordinance 1973 is framed under Section 37 of the Act. It deals with qualifications and conditions of appointment of the teachers in the university teaching department and schools of studies. It is not in dispute that the appellants and contesting respondents have the requisite qualifications for being appointed as Readers or Professors as the case may be.
17. Statute 16 deals with seniority of teachers of the university. It is framed under Section 35(o) of the Act.
Clause (ii) of Statute 16 lays down that the seniority of Professors and Readers in college, Assistant Professors or Lecturers shall be in accordance with the length of continuous service of such person in the cadre concerned (emphasis applied) taken together with length of continuous service in the cadre which is equivalent or superior to the cadre concerned. Our attention was also invited to Ordinance no.4 as applicable to Jiwaji University, Gwalior.
Clause 12 of the said ordinance provides that teachers shall be eligible for merit promotion scheme recommended by the Commission, New Delhi. The said clause with its subclauses deserves to be noted in extensio. It reads as under:- " 12. The teachers of the University shall be eligible for the merit promotion scheme recommended by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
(i) Under this scheme, Lecturers and Readers who have completed 8 years of continuous services in their respective cadres as on 31st December or any date stipulated by the University of the Calender year in which the applications are invited of which atleast four years are in the institution, can be considered.
Provided that not more than one third of the total permanent position of lecturers and readers within a University teach- 64 ing Department may hold such merit promotions at higher level at any given time. While calculating the number of positions for the purpose of this scheme, wherever more than point five (0.5) fraction arises it may be rounded up as one (0.1). The readers holding such promotion posts would not count for determining the total posts in the cadre of readers for purpose of merit promotion to the post of Professors.
ii) The promotion given to lecturers and readers under this scheme would be personal to each individual and in the event of his/her retirement on leaving the University, the post vacated would be the one from which he/she was promoted.
iii) The excess work toad of the teacher given merit promotion will be suitably ad- justed.
iv) No advance increment shall be admissible to a teacher on promotion under this scheme.
The pay of the teachers promoted shall, however, be fixed in accordance with the M.P.
Govt. Rules.
v) The following procedure shall be adopted for the merit promotion of Lecturers and Readers under this scheme.
(a) The Registrar will issue a notice or- dinarily in the month of November every year.
(b) The teachers desirous to be considered for merit promotion should present their application in hexapulate on prescribed form along with three sets of their Research Papers, Publications, Books, Reviews, Curriculum Development, Teaching Aids, Innovation of teaching methods, equipments developed, etc. through their Heads of the Department to the office of the Registrar latest by 31st December of the year the applications are called for.
(c) The Kulpati shall refer the applications together with the enclosures to the two experts and obtain evaluation reports, which shall be kept confidential and placed before the committee of selection constituted U/S 49 of Adhiniyam.
(d) The Committee of selection constituted under section 49 of the Adhiniyam shall make the recommendations after taking into consideration the evaluation reports, of the experts obtained by the Kulapati. The final appointment shall be made by the Executive Council as per provisions of section 49 of the Adhiniyam.
(e) The teachers who have been considered and not selected for merit promotion in the initial presentation, shall be allowed to submit his/her work only after a lapse of two years." 18.Our attention was also invited to the principles for determining seniority of teachers as laid down by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Principle no. 1 as laid down in the resolution of the said university reads as under:- "Subject to the provisions contained in the following clauses, the seniority of teachers appointed under Statute 27 or 28 or promoted under the merit promotion scheme shall be determined from the date of their appointment (joining) or promotion to the post:
(i) Provided that if the date of appoint- ment, promotion of two or more teachers is the same, their seniority shall be determined:
(a) in the case of Assistant Professors, on the basis of the order of merit recommended by the selection committee, and
(b) in the case of Professors and Associate Professors, on the basis of their length 65 of continuous service in the University in the lower post of Associate Professors or Assistant Professors, as the case may be;
(ii)provided further that if both the date of appointment/ promotion and the length of service in the lower post happen to be the same, the seniority in age shall be given priority." 19.Now is time for us to refer to the relevant provisions of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 under which the Commission respondent in both these appeals is constituted.
The Commission Act is enacted to make provisions for the co- ordination and determination of standards in universities.
The Commission is established under Section 4 of the Act.
As per Section 12 it is the general duty of the Commission to take in consultation with the universities or other bodies concerned, all such steps as it may think fit for the promotion and coordination of University education and for the determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities, and for the purpose of performing its functions under the Act. The Commission may inquire into the financial needs of Universi- ties and allocate and disburse out of the Fund of the Commission, grants to Universities established or incorporated by or under a Central Act for the maintenance and development of such Universities or for any other general or specified purpose.
20.In exercise of its powers under the Act the Commission by its communication dated 23rd November, 1982 recommended implementation of merit promotion scheme for University appointed teachers in the Universities and by a later com- munication dated 31st December, 1982 recommended a similar scheme for College appointed teachers. The Commission agreed to grant Rs.600 per annum for each person promoted in accordance with the guidelines circulated with the said com- munication. This contribution was to be made by the Commission for the remaining period of the Sixth Five Year Plan after which the expenditure involved under the scheme was to be undertaken as committed expenditure by the University or the College concerned from its own resource or with the assistance of grants-in-aid from the State as the case may be. The guidelines accompanying said communications referred in their preamble to the role of teachers as being very crucial in the maintenance of academic standards and discipline in educational institutions, That great responsibility lies on the teacher to ensure that appropriate academic atmosphere is maintained in the institution and all academic work is carried out efficiently and with devotion as a full time employee of the institution. With a view to providing reasonable opportunities to teachers for career advancement and recognition the merit promotion scheme was suggested. The basic objective of the merit promotion scheme were to be as under:
1. The basic objectives of the scheme should be (1) to recognize outstanding work done by the university teachers in the areas of teaching and research;
(2) subject such work to objective evaluation by experts in the subject areas concerned and (3) to provide for reasonable opportunities for professional advancement to such teachers, who merit aca- 66 demic recognition, on a competitive basis.
The scheme therefore may be appropriately named as "Merit Promotion Scheme for Uni- versity Teachers." This would be in the nature of a "flexible complementing scheme" wherein no additional posts are created, and the ex- isting persons on the basis of critical assessment are promoted to the next higher level and the position is held by such incumbents as personal to them, and no resultant vacancy is required to be filled.
Such a Scheme would considerably encourage the teachers to engage in advanced teaching and research and make distinct contributions which would merit recognition and promotion.
21. For implementing the said scheme a method was suggested to the effect that the teachers in the University Departments engaged in advanced teaching and research and whose contribution and achievements are such as to merit recognition were to be considered for merit promotion in the first instance after completing 8 years of service in the respective cadre of which atleast four years should be in the institution where he or she is being considered for such assessment and merit promotion. Any teacher who was considered and not selected for merit promotion in the initial presentation could submit his work after the lapse of two years. The work of the concerned teacher including research publication, book review, curriculum development, teaching aids, etc. was to be presented by individual to two referees in the subject discipline concerned. Referees were to be selected by a panel of names set up according to the procedure prescribed by the university for Selection Committee. Merit promotion be given by the appointing authority to a teacher only on recommendation of the Selection Committee duly constituted after it has given due consideration to the opinion of the referees. There should be at least two outside experts on the Selection Committee in the case of promotion to readers and outside experts for promotion to professors in these cases. As per clause (f) of the method of implementation the post of reader given to a Lecturer or the position of a professor given to a Reader through merit promotion would be personal to the incumbent concerned and the main criteria for promotion under the scheme would be the merit of the work and not the seniority of the teachers. As per guideline no.(3) not more than 1/3rd of the number of total permanent position of lecturers or readers within a department may hold such merit promotions at next higher level at any given time. The persons holding such merit promotion would not count for determining the total posts in the cadre of readers for the purpose of merit promotion to professors. As per guideline no.6 while making selections for such promotions it is not expected that the Selection Committee would recommend any advance increment nor it is expected that any rules for pay fixation on promotion/selection to higher posts are applied to provide for increment. Only marginal adjustment would be required to be made within the new scale, nearest to the salary already drawn by the promotee.
22. The said merit promotion scheme as recommended by the Commission is said to have been accepted by all the statutory universities functioning in the country. So far as respondent no.1 university is con- cerned Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, Deptt. of Higher Education by order dated 13th March, 1984 sanctioned implementation of the merit promotion scheme for university teachers referred to in the letter of 23rd November, 1982 of the Commission, New Delhi from academic session 1983-84. It was mentioned therein that expenditure incurred on this scheme will be borne by the university upto 31st March, 1985. Commitment was given by the State that the State Govt. will incur the expenditure on the scheme afterwards from 1st April, 1985.
The expenditure on the scheme from 1st April, 1985 would be treated as maintenance grant. It was further directed that in order to implement the scheme from academic session 1983- 84 the university should take appropriate steps according to the provisions of Madhya Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyam, 1973. University should see to it that the rules should be framed and ensure uniformity in all the universities of Madhya Pradesh according to the scheme. First respondent accordingly adopted the said merit promotion scheme for its teachers. Thereafter it appears that the concerned universities entertained doubts regarding the fixation of inter se seniority between promotee readers and professors under the scheme and directly recruited professors and readers under the statutory provisions of the Act constitut- ing such universities. In that connection the Secretary to the Commission by its letter dated 27th April, 1984 addressed to all Vice Chancellors of Universities conveyed the decision of the Commission at its meeting held on 29th March, 1984 to the effect that the Commission -felt that the question of seniority of teachers promoted under the merit promotion scheme vis a vis teachers appointed against regular recruitment be decided by the University/institution concerned. It appears that thereafter this question was sought to be resolved at the level of the concerned universities. So far as Universities situated in Madhya Pradesh arc concerned, by communication of the Chancellor, i.e., Governor of Madhya Pradesh dated 29th June, 1987 addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Avtesh Pratap Singh University, Riwa it was informed that seniority of one Dr. Agrawal who was a merit promotee should be fixed above the seniority of Dr. R.L. Singh who was later recruited as Professor. So far as respondent no.1 university is concerned it treated promotee readers and professors on par with directly recruited professors and readers and fixed their inter se seniority on the basis of continuous officiation of the concerned incumbent in the post. Even the Coordination Committee for the University endorsed that view. Our attention was also invited to Ordinance no.4 promulgated by Jiwaji University, Gwalior. In that ordinance as noted earlier it is clearly provided that the teachers of the university should be eligible for merit pro- motion scheme recommended by the Commission, New Delhi. The resolution dated 26th June, 1988 passed by the Jawaharlal Nehru University was also pressed into service. The said resolution stated that subject to the provisions containing the seniority of teachers appointed under statute 27 or 28 are promulgated shall be determined from the date of their appointment of joining or promotion to the post. Statute 27 referred to the direct recruitment. While statute 28 referred to special mode of appointment by Executive Council which may invite a person of high academic excellence to accept the post of a Professor or Reader in the university.
So far as Delhi University is concerned learned counsel appearing for the Professors work- 68 ing in the Delhi University who have been joined as respondents on their impleading applications submitted that the statute 6(2) framed under the Delhi University Act, 1922 authorised the Executive Council to appoint from time to time such Professors, Readers, Lecturers and other members of the teaching staff as may be necessary on the recommendation of the Selection Committee constituted for the purpose. That as per Ordinance 11, clause 8(i) all posts of teachers have to be filled up after advertisement by open recruitment subject to the proviso that University may appoint Professors, Readers under the merit promotion scheme of 1983 as accepted by the Executive Council in accordance with the eligibility conditions and in the manner prescribed in this scheme. As per clause (ii) of ordinance 11 seniority of teacher in a particular discipline etc. etc.
shall be determined in accordance with the principles laid down therein. We were also taken to the minutes of the Executive Council of Delhi University dated 24th April, 1983 wherein a decision was rendered regarding selection of university teachers under the merit promotion scheme to the effect that the composition of the Screening/ Evaluation Committee for promotion of Lecturers to the post of Readers and for promotion of Readers to the post of Professors in the University department shall be the same as that of the statutory Selection Committee for recruitment of teachers to such posts. Our attention was also invited to the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Council of the Delhi Uni- versity dated 29th December, 1990 wherein at item no. 141 was the resolution to the effect that the recommendation of the Committee constituted by Vice Chancellor regarding determination of seniority of teachers permitted under merit promotion scheme vis a vis direct recruit be accepted as set out in Appendix-1. Appendix -1 states that the committee decided that persons appointed as Professors or Readers have to be treated alike in the matter of seniority and cannot be placed in two different compartments merely because two different pay scales were applicable to these cadres. The committee concluded that seniority in all these cases should be determined by the date of appointment or promotion.
23. It therefore appears that after the merit promotion scheme of 1982 was adopted by all the statutory universities in the country and when the Commission left the question of inter se seniority between promotees and direct recruits Professors and Readers to be determined by the concerned university, respondent no. 1 university and other universities seem to have taken the view that all these incumbents be treated at par and their inter se seniority should be determined on the basis of continuous officiation in the concerned post.
24. The scheme of merit promotion scheme of 1982 underwent a sea change by the year 1987. The Central Govt., Ministry of Human Resource Development, Deptt. of Education by its communication dated 17th June, 1987 to the Secretary, of ,the Commission informed that the Govt. of India had after taking into consideration the recommendation of the Commis- sion decided to revise the scales of pay of the teachers in Central Universities. The revision of pay of teachers was to be effective from 1st January, 1986. A similar communication was addressed to the Education Secretaries of all States regarding revision of pay scales of teachers in, universities for maintenance of standards in 69 higher education. It was informed that the Central Govt. had revised the pay scales of teachers in universities and colleges in order to attract talented teachers. A career advancement scheme was introduced, and made applicable to the teachers in the universities and affiliated colleges with effect from 1st January, 1986. As per the annexure- 1 attached to the aforesaid communication dated 17th June, 1987 the revised scale of pay available to a Reader was Rs.3700-125-4700-160-5300 while the pay scale of Professor was to be Rs.4500-150-5700-200-7300. It was also provided therein that the existing teachers in Universities and Colleges where the merit promotion schemes formulated by the Commission, or any other similar scheme were in operation would have an option to continue to be governed by the provisions of these schemes provided that they exercise that option in writing prior to their pay fixation under this scheme, they would also be entitled to the designations envisaged for various categories of teachers in these schemes, but the scales of pay would be as follows:- Readers/Lecturers (Selection Grade) Rs.3000 - 5000 Professor Rs.4500 - 5700 It thus became clear that with effect from 1. 1. 1986 because of the career advancement scheme introduced by the Central Govt. the erstwhile merit promotion scheme providing for uniform pay scale then available to directly recruited Readers and Professors as well as the merit promoted Professors and Teachers was given a go-by and under the career advancement scheme uniform revised pay scales were provided for Readers and Professors with a rider that those existing teachers in Universities and Colleges who gave in writing to be governed by the merit promotion scheme even thereafter would get the benefit of that scheme for being promoted to the post of Professors and Readers as the case may be but their pay scales would be lower as compared to the pay scales of directly recruited Professors and Readers.
In other words, if after 17.6.1987 when the career advancement scheme replaced the earlier merit promotion scheme, any existing Lecturer or Reader wanted to take the benefit of merit promotion scheme thereafter and if he got promoted accordingly to the post of Reader or Professor as the case may be his pay scale on the promotional post of reader would be Rs.3000 - 5000 as compared to the pay scale of Rs.3700 - 5300 available to a directly recruited Reader and so far as merit promoted Professor was concerned his pay scale would be lower, namely, Rs.4500 - 5700 as compared to the higher pay scale available to a directly recruited Professor, i.e. Rs.4500 - 7300. By a communication dated 6th January, 1989 addressed by the Under Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Deptt. of Education addressed to all Registrars of State Universities a clarification was issued regarding the merit promotion scheme. It was informed that the Govt. of India had decided that existing teachers in universities and colleges where the merit promotion scheme formulated by the Commission in 1983 or any other similar scheme are in operation will have an option to continue to be governed by the provision of these schemes provided that they exercise the option in writing prior to their pay fixation under this scheme. They will also be entitled to the designations envisaged for various categories of teachers in these schemes, but the scales of pay 70 will be as follows:-
i) Lecturer - Rs.2200 - 4000
ii) Reader - Rs.3000 - 5000
iii) Professor - Rs.4500 - 5700
25. In the light of the aforesaid relevant statutory provisions and factual data we may now turn to the consideration of rival contentions canvassed by the learned Advocates representing the contesting parties.
IV. Rival contentions:
26. Mr. Bobde, learned counsel appearing for the appellants in civil appeal no.6001/94 submitted that as per statute 16 of the first respondent university, the seniority of college Professor, Reader, etc. shall be determined in accordance with the length of continuous service of such person in the cadre concerned. That cadre is not defined by the Act or the rules. That in law even a temporary addition to the cadre during the time a promotee Lecturer works as a Reader has to be considered to be an addition to the cadre of Readers. That such merit promotion of a Lecturer to the post of a Reader on pure merits and competition and through a Selection Committee which is the same as the Selection Committee for directly recruited Readers under Section 49 of the Act cannot be said to be an ad hoc or stop-gap promotion. It is a regular promotion on pure merits and therefore the cadre of Reader can be said to have been enlarged for taking in its fold such promotee Readers. Once that conclusion is reached it becomes obvious that for deciding inter se seniority of such promotee Readers and directly recruited Readers there cannot be any discrimina- tion. They all do the same work, they are selected on merits by the same committee though the sources of recruitment may be different. But their birth marks would vanish the moment they formed part and parcel of the same cadre of Readers. Hence, continuous officiation of the concerned incumbents in the Readers posts would be the only relevant yardstick for deciding the inter se seniority of promotee vis a vis directly recruited Readers. Mr. Bobde submitted that the High Court in the impugned judgment had patently erred in holding that the said promotee Readers were not part of the cadre of Readers. That even-though the promotion may be personal to the incumbent, so long as he is in service he remains entitled to occupy the promotional post and to that extent there is a net addition to the cadre of Readers.
27. Reliance was also placed on the decision of the Division Bench of Rajasthan High Court in Civil Writ No.2558/88 decided on 9th December, 1988 by the Bench of Mr. Justice S.N. Bhargava and Mr. Justice P.C. Jain. The Division Bench of Rajasthan High Court had taken the view that once Associate Professors or Professors formed one category of teachers and once their work was identical there cannot be any discrimination in connection with pay scales made available to them. Whether a person is promotee Pro- fessor or directly recruited Professor, he has to be paid the same time scale and a promoted Professor cannot be given lessor time scale. Mr. Bobde also placed reliance on the decision of this court in the case of S.B. Patwardhan & Anr. v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. and K.V. Ramkrishna & Ors. v. State of Gujarat & Ors. and MG. Raichur & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors. (1977 (3) SCC 399) to support his contention that temporary ad- 71 dition to the cadre can be made by having temporary Post included therein. In this connection, reliance was also placed on the, decisions of this court in the case of Direct Recruit Class II Engineering Officers Association v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. (1990 (2) SCC 715) and in the case, of A. Janardhana v. Union of India & Ors. (1983 (3) SCC 601).
It was contended that the appellant was entitled to be treated as senior to respondent no.4 as she become Reader under merit promotion scheme prior to the date on which respondent no.4 entered the cadre of Reader by direct recruitment. it was also contended that once the appellant was promoted as a Reader even though it may be a personal promotion and there may not be any vacancy of a Lecturer because of such promotion, even then she cannot be treated as merely a Lecturer for the, purpose of fixation of seniority as has been ordered by the High Court.
28. Mr. Dave appearing for the appellants in Civil Appeal No. 6002/94 adopted the submissions of Sh. Bobde and further submitted that the appellants were promoted on 12th March, 1986 as Professors under merit promotion scheme, while respondent no.4, original writ petitioner who was a Professor in a private college was directly recruited as Professor under Section 49 of the Act on 13th March 1986 and therefore the appellants were senior to respondent no.4.
That the merit promotion scheme was adopted by respondent no.1 university. The Coordination Committee of first respondent by its meeting dated 11th January, 1984 had adopted th said scheme. That the Commission had left the question of inter se seniority of direct recruits and promotee professors to the University. Its Coordination Committee by its meetings dated 27th and 28th October, 1988 had decided that there could be no discrimination between teachers promoted under merit promotion scheme and direct recruits and that such a decision could be taken by the Coordination Committee in exercise of its power under Section 24 of the Act. That the Executive Council of the university exercising powers under Sections 23 and 24 of the Act adopted this decision of the Coordination Committee on 27th May, 1989. The State Govt. had issued a letter on 23.9.89 wherein it was clearly stated that Professors promoted under the merit promotion scheme before 17th June, 1987 shall also be paid Rs.4500 - 150 - 5700 200 - 7 3 00 with effect from 1. 1. 1986 and this clarification was also adopted by Executive Council of respondent no. 1 university in its meeting held on 27.5.1988 by resolution no. 179. The net result of the resolution was that a Professor under the merit promotion scheme before 17-6-87 is entitled to pay scale of Rs.4500 - 7300 with effect from 1.1.86 and the Professor promoted under the merit scheme after 17.6.87 is to be paid the scale of Rs.4500 - 5700. Mr. Dave invited our attention to relevant provisions of the Act and submit- ted that once a promotee is given promotion on pure merit by the very same committee which also selects direct recruits, and once the promotees prior to 17.6.87 are entitled to the same pay scale as directly recruited Professors there is no reason why in the matter of inter se seniority there should be any distinction or difference between them. Placing reliance on the decision of this court O.P. Singla & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. and Sadhu Ram & Others v. Union of India & Others (1984 (4) SCC 450) it was submitted that temporary appointees to cadre posts can 72 also be considered to be incumbents in the cadre as Executive Council has power under Section 24 of the Act to create posts as laid down by clause 20 thereof. That cadres can be amalgamated. Placing reliance on the decision of this court in the case of Vinay Kumar Verma & Ors. v. State of Bihar & Ors. (1990 (2) SCC 647) it was submitted that once cadres are amalgamated the incumbent of the cadre is brought in with the post.
29. Learned Advocate, Sh. Sharma appearing for promotee Professors respondents 6 to 61 in Civil Appeal No.6001/94 submitted that the basis of the scheme was to provide promotional advancement to avoid stagnation, that though University Act did not envisage internal promotion, the sanctioned strength of Readers and Professors can be increased by bringing in promotees. Reliance was also placed on statute 37 of the Delhi University and minutes of Executive Council meetings. Our attention was also invited to the fact that one Mr. Krishna Kumar was selected as direct recruit but he opted out for being promoted under merit promotion scheme. Therefore it could not be said that those who are unfit to be selected as direct recruits got a back- door entry through merit promotion scheme.
30. Learned senior counsel, Dr. Dhavan appearing for 56 Professors of Jawaharlal Nehru University adopted these arguments. The learned Advocate for promotees teachers further submitted that in the present proceedings only 1983 scheme is on the anvil and we arc not concerned with the career advancement scheme of 1987. All those who were promoted between 1983 to 1987 as Professors submit that their seniority vis a vis directly recruited Professors cannot but be decided on the yardstick of continuous officiation of Professors. That the scheme of 1982 is to be read with letter of the Commission issued in 1984 which stated that the question of inter se seniority was left to the concerned universities. That once the concerned uni- versity decided to accord seniority to promotees vis a vis direct recruits on the basis of continuous officiation the matter was at an end. That on the doctrine of promissory estoppel neither the university nor the direct recruits can take a contrary stand. That the Scheme of merit promotion can be divided into two parts. The first part dealt with promotion on pure merits, while the second part wherein new additional staff was not to be created and the vacancies created on account of the promotion of the incumbents were not to be filled was based on consideration of financial crunch but it had nothing to do with the inter se seniority of promotees and direct recruit Professors. That this amounted to only tightening of the belt and in that sense the promotion can be considered to be personal. Our attention was invited to the decisions of this court in the cases of University of Delhi v. Raj Singh & Ors. (1994 Supp. (3) SCC 516) and Col. A.S. Iyer & Ors. etc. v. V. Balasubramanyam & Ors. (1980 SCR 1036) for submitting that overdoing of classification should be avoided and merely on the basis of classification the guarantee of equality under Article 14 does not get exhausted. Placing reliance on the decision of this court in the case of Paradise Printers and Others v. Union Territory of Chandigarh and Others (1988 (1) SCC 440) it was submitted that this was a case of promissory estoppel, that while getting merit promotions the incumbents were promised by the Commission that their se- 73 niority will be decided by the university concerned and once the university had decided to give them seniority on the basis of continuous officiation a clear case of promissory estoppel had arisen in their favour. That decision of Jawaharlal Nehru University dated 28th June, 1988 in this connection was that the university had decided that inter se seniority of directly recruited Professors and promotees should be decided on the basis of continuous officiation.
That for seniority, entry in service was relevant as decided in the case of Bhey Ram Sharma & Ors. v. Haryana State Electricity Board & Ors. and Balbir Singh & Ors. v. Haryana State Electricity Board & Ors. and Sohan Lal Verma & Anr. v. Haryana State Electricity Board & Ors. (1994 Supp.(1) SCC 276). It was therefore submitted that the High Court was patently wrong in taking the view that merit promoted Professors and Readers could not stake their claim of seniority vis a vis direct recruit Professors and Readers who formed a distinct class or cadre within which the promotees could not be encompassed.
31. Mr. Gambhir, learned Advocate appearing for respondents 1 to 3 being Vikram University, its Registrar and Vice Chancellor broadly supported the arguments of learned counsel for the promotees. He contended that once a merit promotee is promoted from the post of Lecturer to that of Reader or from the post of Reader to that of Professor there is no question of any reversion of such a promotee only on the ground that there is no vacancy of a Reader or Professor. That Section 49 of the University Act only pre- scribes the procedure for selection of a Reader or Professor but is not confined to only direct recruitment of such university teachers. That promotions given to the concerned teachers under the merit promotion scheme are in accordance with Section 49 of the Act. Once the Lecturers so promoted enter the cadre of Reader they would be entitled to further promotion on merits. Our attention was invited to the reply filed by the university before the High Court for submitting that as original respondent no.4 was officiating as Reader prior to the original writ petitioner, he was rightly shown as senior to him. He further submitted that Coordination Committee had adopted the scheme and that resolution of the Coordination Committee was further adopted by the Executive Council of the university. Mr. Gambhir further contended that statutes and ordinances of the university are part of the Act and they can create new source of recruitment. In this connection reliance was also placed on Section 34 of the Act which defines powers of Coordination Committee which can approve or reject statutes or ordinances. In this connection, Mr. Gambhir invited our attention to paragraph 10(d) of the return on behalf of respondents no.1 & 2 filed in the High Court. In the said paragraph it was stated that the merit promotion scheme was formulated by the Commission in the year 1982 and it was approved in the meeting of the Coordination Committee by resolution no.23 dated 29.6.1983 and it was decided to implement this scheme in all the Universities of the State from the academic session 198384.
It was also resolved by the Coordination Committee that the scheme can be implemented without framing any separate ordinance or statute for the purpose and that the same decision was confirmed in a subsequent meeting of the Coordination Committee held on 11.1.1984. Mr. Gambhir also referred to the averments 74 made in paragraph 10(f) of the said counter. It has been pointed out therein that the Coordination Committee appointed under section 34 of the Vishva Vidyalaya Adhiniyam has resolved in its meeting held on 27th and 28th October, 1988 as under:
" 12.02 The Coordination Committee decided that no discrimination may be made between teachers promoted under the Merit Promotion Scheme and those recruited under section 49 of the Madhya Pradesh Vishva Vidyalaya Adhiniyam 1972 in the Universities." On the basis of the said resolution it was submitted that this amounted to creation of an additional source of recruitment of teachers in the university. In this connec- tion Mr. Gambhir relied on the decision of this court in the case of Dr. Ms. O.Z Hussain v. Union of India (1990 (Supp) SCC 688). At page 691 in para 7 it has been laid down that there is desirability of having source of promotion for any service to avoid stagnation and heart burning and that accordingly the university had recognised this additional source of recruitment of teachers by way of promotion under the merit promotion scheme. And once that is accepted on the principle of continuous officiation original writ peti- tioner would be junior to original respondent no.4 who is appellant before us.
32.Learned counsel for the Commission Shri Banerjee submitted that as per the Commission Act the function of the Commission was to suggest merit promotion scheme to teachers in the universities to avoid heart burning and frustration but the Commission was not concerned with the inter se seniority of university teachers. That question was left to be considered by the concerned universities. That the Commission in exercise of its powers under Section 12 of the Act had recommended to the concerned universities to adopt merit promotion scheme and that is how the scheme was adopted by the concerned universities. That it was not open to the Commission to direct creation of more posts in the cadre. That the merit promotion scheme did not contemplate fixing of inter se seniority of merit promoted teachers and directly recruited teachers. Mr. Banerjee further submitted that after the Central Government's direction to 'revise the pay scales of university teachers with effect from 1. 1.
1986, the then existing merit promotion scheme remained available to the concerned teachers to exercise their option. But in that they were to receive lessor pay scales as promoted. Readers or Professors as the case may be if their promotions were subsequent to 17th June, 1987 when the Govt. decided to revise the pay scales. That for new incum- bents who arc directly recruited as Readers or Lecturers after 17.6.1987 there was no merit promotion scheme available but only career advancement scheme was available.
That only promotee Readers or Professors who were promoted under the then existing promotion scheme prior to 17th June, 1987 got their pay protected as per the decision of the M.P. Govt. Placing reliance on the decision of this court in the case of Dr. Ms. O.Z Hussain v. Union of India (supra), it was submitted that provision for promotional opportunities to university teachers was essential for removing stagnation of the concerned merit oriented teachers and that was the basis of the scheme.
33.Mr. Singh, Advocate for respondent no.4 in Civil Appeal No.6001/94 in reply 75 submitted that Section 49 of the Act which was enacted years back in 1973 did not contemplate any promotions. That the merit promotion scheme which came years afterwards in 1982 could not therefore be treated to have been encompassed by Section 49. That the respondent no.4 was appointed as a direct recruit Reader pursuant to the advertisement issued by the university. From the date of appointment on 13th March, 1986 he was to be on probation for two years.
Thereafter he was confirmed as Reader on 12th April, 1988.
That merit promotion scheme sought to grant an opportunity for promotion to Lecturers only by way of personal promotions. No vacancy was thereby created in the cadre of Lecturers nor any post was created in the cadre of Readers to accommodate such promotees, that the scheme should be read independently of the Act. The merit promotees were occupying excadre posts and consequently there cannot be a combined seniority list of directly recruited Readers who were part of the cadre of Readers and merit promotee excadre Readers who were having persona promotions as Readers. That ordinance of Vikram University promulgated under Section 37(xv) did not say anything about promotion. In this connection our attention was invited to a decision of this court in the case of Dr. Bal Krishna Agarwal v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Or. (JT 1995(1 SC 47 1) wherein it was clearly laid do that in. case of merit promotion scheme unless university act is amended and such a new source of promotion is contemplate therein there would be no increase in cad of the concerned teachers. Our attention was also invited to Appendix- 1 of Ordinance 4 wherein clause 6 provided for recruitment of Lecturers, Readers and Professors to be made through all India advertisement. In this connection, Mr. Singh also invited our attention to the reply filed by Vikram University before the High Court. In the return in paragraph 10(a) it has been stated that respondent no.4 was appointed Reader by promotion in accord- ance with the scheme which was accepted by the university.
The appointment of respondent no.4 was not on probation and therefore there was no question of her confirmation on the said post. Mr. Singh submitted if that was so a promotee Reader cannot have any confirmed post but would remain on personal assignment by way of promotion. Our attention was also invited to paragraph 15 of the petition before the High Court in which it has been stated that under the 7th Five Year Plan the establishment of the teaching staff of the university, as per the record of the university, annexed at P/10 is as follows:
Professor 18 Reader 33 and Lecturer 57 Thus there were only 33 posts of Readers in the university.
It was contended in the light of the above said averments which were not denied by the university, that the 33 posts of Readers, were meant for direct recruitment and the merit promotee Readers would therefore be outside the cadre or the sanctioned strength of Readers. In connection with resolution 12.02 of the Coordination Committee it was submitted that under section 34 of sub-section (4) such a resolution cannot be passed by the Coordination Committee and therefore it had no force of law. It was next contended that as per Section 24(xx) no post was recommended by Academic Planning and Evaluation Board nor prior approval of 76 Madhaya Pradesh Uchcha Shiksha Anudan Ayog was shown to have been obtained before creation of such posts to be filled up by departmental promotees under the merit promotion scheme and therefore it would not be correct to contend that there was a temporary addition to the cadre strength of Readers or Professors as the case may be. It was further contended that the work load of promotee Readers is different from work load of directly recruited Readers. Even their pay scales are different from 1986. 'Mat Section 35(0) which dealt with seniority provision had to be read with Section 49 which contemplated direct recruitment only. Placing reliance on the Constitution Bench decision of this court in the case of The Direct Recruit Class II Engineering Officers'Association and Others v. State of Maharashtra and others (JT 1990 (2) SC 264) at page 271 (para 13) it was submitted that unequals cannot be treated as equals. An excadre employee cannot be treated to be a cadre employee for determining their inter se seniority and therefore the High Court was right in accepting the writ petition of the direct recruit Reader.
34. Respondent no.4 in Civil Appeal No.6002/94 who appeared in person, adopted the line of reasoning as submitted by Shri Singh and further contended that he was appointed as Professor of Physics pursuant to all India competition. The post was advertised by inviting applications and in the open competition as contemplated by Section 49 of the Act, the appellant -candidates were rejected while respondent no.4 were selected. That though the appellants were merit promoted as Professors, they were wrongly shown as senior to him and that is why he had to file the petition in the High Court which was rightly allowed. 'Mat there were two posts of Professors of Physics in 1986 and for filling up one vacancy advertisement was issued and interviews were held.
That though the Selection Committee had considered the cases of appellants for merit promotion on 13.3.86 after direct recruits were interviewed and recruitment was over, university had wrongly and mala fide issued promotion orders to the appellants by way of backdating them on 12.3.1986.
That merit promotions was purely personal to the incumbent.
The moment the incumbent retired or resigned or otherwise ceased to be a merit promotee, there will be no question of promoting somebody else vice him. It was further contended that merit promotion scheme cannot be implemented without ordinances or provisions and in the absence of such a provision merit promotions granted to the appellants were required to be quashed. That they could not be given the same pay scale as directly recruited Professors. Placing reliance on the decision of this court in Civil Appeal no.1549/94 it was submitted that the abstract doctrine of equal pay for equal work was illogical and consequently the judgment of Rajasthan High Court which had taken the view that merit promoted Professors should be given the same pay scale as direct recruits could not be sustained. He submitted that the university had harassed him by showing him to be junior to promotee Professors and therefore he prayed for Following reliefs:- 1) Respondent no.4 be awarded compensation amounting to Rs. 17.00 lakhs.
2) Merit promoted Professors should be treated as additional Professors but not as a full-fledged Professor. 77
3) Pay scales of merit promoted Professors should be reduced.
35. Mr. Bobde, Mr. Dave and Dr. Dhavan in rejoinder refuted the contentions of Shri Singh and respondent no.4 in C.A. No.6002/94 and reiterated their submissions in support of the appeals.
V. Points for consideration:
36. In the light of the aforesaid rival contentions the following points arise for our consideration-- 1) Whether a merit promotee Reader or Professor as the case may be in the ser
