Rajbir Singh Dalal vs Chaudhari Devi Lal University & Anr

CIVIL APPEAL NO_4908______OF 2008 [Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 19142/2006]

Dr. Rajbir Singh Dalal .. Appellant

-versus-

Chaudhari Devi Lal University, Sirsa & Anr. .. Respondents

JUDGMENT

MARKANDEY KATJU, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal has been filed against the impugned judgment and order

dated 21.9.2006 of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in CWP No. 6642

of 2005.

3. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. 2

4. The short question in this appeal is whether the appellant fulfills the

requisite academic qualification for appointment to the post of Reader in

Public Administration in Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa.

5. The respondent-university issued an advertisement for direct

recruitment for various posts, including the post of Reader in Public

Administration. The appellant herein, claiming to be fully eligible and

qualified for the post of Reader in Public Administration, applied for the

aforementioned post on the prescribed format. A Selection Committee

interviewed the appellant on 18.7.2004 as per the call letter dated 8.7.2004.

The appellant was selected as Reader and he joined as such on 4.4.2005.

6. Respondent No. 2 herein, Dr. Raj Kumar Siwach, who was a Lecturer

in Public Administration had also applied for the post of Reader, but he was

not selected and instead the appellant was selected. Hence, respondent No.

2 filed a writ petition in the Punjab & Haryana High Court being CWP No.

6642/2005 in which he alleged that the appellant herein, Dr. Rajbir Singh

Dalal, did not possess the requisite qualification for the post of Reader in

Public Administration. It was alleged in the writ petition that the appellant

was an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science and not in Public 3

Administration. Hence, it was alleged that the appellant was not eligible for

being selected and appointed as Reader in Public Administration.

7. In the counter affidavit filed by respondent No. 1, the University, it

was stated that Public Administration is one of the branches of Political

Science, and hence the appellant herein was rightly selected by the Selection

Committee consisting of eminent experts after evaluating his academic

qualifications.

8. In the counter affidavit filed by the appellant herein before the High

Court it was admitted that the appellant had his qualification from the

discipline of Political Science, but it was asserted that he was subjected to a

process of selection before an expert committee consisting of the Vice

Chancellor of the University, Dr. L. Goyal, Professor of Public

Administration, Punjab University and Dr. R.K. Tiwari, a Professor in

Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.

9. The High Court by the impugned judgment dated 21.9.2006 allowed

the writ petition and set aside the selection and appointment of the

appellant. The High Court relied on the decision of this Court in Dr.

Bhanu Prasad Panda vs. Chancellor, Sambalpur University (2001) 8 4

SCC 532 in which it was observed that the subjects of Public

Administration and Political Science are distinct and separate and a person

possessing the academic qualification in the discipline of Political Science

could not be appointed in the discipline of Public Administration. The High

Court also relied on Regulation 2 of the UGC Regulations which states as

under :

"2. Qualification:

No persons shall be appointed to a teaching post in university or in any institutions including constituent or affiliated colleges recognized under clause (f) of section 2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or in an institution deemed to be a university under section 3 of the said Act in a subject if he/she does not fulfill the requirements as to the qualifications for the appropriate subjects as provided in the Annexure.

Provided that any relaxation in the prescribed qualifications can only be made by the University Grants Commission in a particular subject in which NET is not being conducted or enough number of candidates are not available with NET qualifications for a specified period only. (This relaxation, if allowed, would be given based on sound qualification and would apply to affected Universities for that particular subject for the specified period. No individual applications would be entertained).

Provided further that these regulations shall not be applicable to such cases where selections of the candidates having had the then requisite minimum qualification as were existing at that time through duly constituted Selection Committee for making appointments to the teaching posts have been made prior to the enforcement of these regulations.

1.3.2. Reader 5

Good academic record with a doctoral degree or equivalent published work. In addition to these, candidates when join from outside the university system, shall also possess at least 55% of the marks or an equivalent grade of B in the 7 point scale with latter grades, O, A, B, C, D, E and F at the Master's degree level.

Five years of experience of teaching and/or research excluding the period spent for obtaining the research degrees and has made one mark in the areas of scholarship as evidenced by quality of publications, contribution to educational innovation, design of new courses and curricula.

1.3.3. Lecturer Good academic record with at least 55% of the marks or, an equivalent grade of B in the 7 point scale with latter grades, O, A, B, D, D, E and F at the Master's degree level, in the relevant subject from an Indian University, or an equivalent degree from a foreign university.

Besides fulfilling the above qualifications, candidates should have cleared the eligibility test (NET) for lecturers conducted by the UGC, CSIR, or similar test accredited by the UGC.

Note:- Net shall remain the compulsory requirement for appointment as Lecturer even for candidates having Ph. D. degree. However, the candidate who have completed M. Phil. Degree or have submitted Ph.D. thesis in the concerned subject up to 31st December, 1993 are exempted from appearing in the NET examination."

10. The High Court was of the view that a person is not qualified for

appointment as Reader unless he has qualification in the appropriate

subject. The High Court was also of the view that since the appellant had a

qualification in the discipline of Political Science he could not be appointed 6

in the discipline of Public Administration. Aggrieved, this appeal has been

filed by the appellant in this Court.

11. Mr. P.S. Patwalia, learned senior counsel for the appellant submitted

that in the UGC Regulation for the post of Lecturer the requirement was a

Master's degree in the relevant subject, whereas the expression `in the

relevant subject' is not mentioned in the qualifications for the post of

Reader. Hence, he submitted that it was not necessary for the appellant to

have a Master's degree in the relevant subject for appointment to the post of

Reader. We regret we cannot agree. In our opinion, the words `in the

relevant subject' has to be read into the qualification for the post of Reader

also.

12. To take a contrary view would lead to a strange situation as that

would mean that a person who has an M.A. degree in Music or History, is

qualified to be appointed as Reader in Political Science.

13. No doubt, the ordinary principle of interpretation is that words should

neither be added nor deleted from a statutory provision. However, there are

some exceptions to the rule where the alternative lies between either

supplying by implication words which appear to have been accidentally 7

omitted, or adopting a strict construction which leads to absurdity or

deprives certain existing words of all meaning, and in this situation it is

permissible to supply the words (vide Principles of Statutory Interpretation

by Justice G.P. Singh, 9th edn. Pp 71-76).

14. Thus, in Siraj-ul-Haq vs. Sunni Central Board of Waqf, U.P. AIR

1959 SC 198, the Supreme Court interpreted the words `any person

interested in a Waqf' in section 5(2) of the U.P. Muslims Waqfs Act, 1936

as meaning `any person interested in what is held to be a waqf'.

15. Similarly, in State Bank of Travancore vs. Mohammad AIR 1981

SC 1744, while construing section 4(1) of the Kerala Agriculturists Debt

Relief Act, 1970 the Supreme Court interpreted the words `any debt due

before the commencement of this Act to any banking company' as meaning

`any debt due at and before the commencement of this Act'.

16. Similarly, in Gujarat Composite Ltd. vs. Ranip Nagarpalika AIR

2000 SC 135, the Supreme Court interpreted the words `Grog Minerals' to

mean `Grog & Minerals'. In Divisional Personnel Officer, Southern

Railway vs. T. R. Challappan AIR 1975 SC 2216, the Supreme Court

interpreted the words `any party to an arbitration agreement' occurring in 8 section 33 of the Indian Arbitration Act, 1940 to mean `a person who is

alleged to be a party to an arbitration agreement'.

17. We may also consider the matter from our traditional principles of

interpretation known as the `Mimansa Rules of Interpretation'.

18. It is deeply regrettable that in our Courts of law lawyers quote

Maxwell and Craies but nobody refers to the Mimansa Principles of

interpretation. Most lawyers would not have even heard of their existence.

Today our so-called educated people are largely ignorant about the great

intellectual achievements of our ancestors and the intellectual treasury

which they have bequeathed us. The Mimansa Principles of interpretation is

part of that great intellectual treasury, but it is distressing to note that apart

from the reference to these principles in the judgment of Sir John Edge, the

then Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, in Beni Prasad v. Hardai Bibi,

1892 ILR 14 All 67 (FB), over a hundred years ago and in some judgments

of one of us (M. Katju, J.) there has been almost no utilization of these

principles even in our own country. Many of the Mimansa Principles are

rational and scientific and can be utilized in the legal field (see in this

connection K.L. Sarkar's `Mimansa Rules of Interpretation' which is a

collection of Tagore Law Lectures delivered in 1905 containing the best 9

exposition of these principles in English. Most other books on Mimansa are

in Sanskrit).

19. The Mimansa Principles of Interpretation, as laid down by Jaimini

around the 5th century B.C. in his sutras and as explained by Sabar,

Kumarila Bhatta, Prabhakar, Mandan Mishra, Shalignath, Parthasarathy

Mishra, Apadeva, Shree Bhat Shankar, etc. were regularly used by our

renowned jurists like Vijneshwara (author of Mitakshara), Jimutvahana

(author of Dayabhaga), Nanda Pandit (author of Dattaka Mimansa), etc.

whenever there they found any conflict between the various Smritis, e.g.,

Manusmriti and Yajnavalkya Smriti, or ambiguity, ellipse or absurdity in

any Smriti. Thus, the Mimansa principles were our traditional system of

interpretation of legal texts. Although originally they were created for

interpreting religious texts pertaining to the Yagya (sacrifice), they were so

rational and logical that gradually they came to be utilized in law,

philosophy, grammar, etc., that is, they became of universal application.

Thus, Shankaracharya has used the Mimansa Adhikaranas (principles) in his

bhashya on the Vedanta sutras.

20. The Mimansa principles were regularly used by our great jurists for

interpreting legal texts (see also in this connection P.V. Kane's' History of 10

the Dharmashastra', Vol. V, Pt. II, Ch. XXIX and Ch. XXX, pp. 1282-

1351).

21. In Mimansa, casus omissus is known as adhyahara. The adhyahara

principle permits us to add words to a legal text. However, the superiority

of the Mimansa Principles over Maxwell's Principles in this respect is

shown by the fact that Maxwell does not go into further detail and does not

mention the sub-categories coming under the general category of casus

omissus. In the Mimansa system, on the other hand, the general category of

adhyahara has under it several sub-categories, e.g., anusanga, anukarsha,

vakyashesha, etc. Since in this case we are concerned with the anusanga

principle, we may explain it in some detail.

22. The anusanga principle (or elliptical extension) states that an

expression occurring in one clause is often meant also for a neighbouring

clause, and it is only for economy that it is only mentioned in the former

(see Jaimini 2, 2, 16). The anusanga principle has a further sub-

categorization. If a clause which occurs in a subsequent sentence is to be

read into a previous sentence it is a case of Tadapakarsha, but when it is

vice-versa it is a case of Tadutkarsha.

11

23. The Anusanga principle of Mimansa was used by Jimutvahana in the

Dayabhaga. Jimutvahana found that there is a text of Manu which states:

"Of a woman married according to the Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, Gandharva and Prajapartya form, the property shall go to her husband if she dies without issue. But her property, given to her on her marriage in the form called Asura, Rakshasa and Paisacha, on her death without issue shall become the property of her parents."

24. It can be seen that in the second sentence the word `property' is

qualified by the words `given to her on her marriage', whereas in the first

sentence there is no such qualification. Jimutvahana, using the anusanga

principle of Mimansa, said that the words "given to her on her marriage"

should also be inserted in the first sentence after the word "property", and

hence there also the word `property' must be interpreted in a qualified

sense.

25. In the Mitakshara also the anusanga principle of Mimansa has been

used. Yajnavalkya II. 135-136 lays down the order of succession to the

wealth of a person dying sonless. Yajnavalkya II. 137 deals with succession

to property of a forest hermit, an ascetic, or a perpetual Vedic student. The

Mitakshara then holds that Yajnavalkya II. 138 `samaristinastu samaristi' is

to be construed as an exception to Yajnavalkya II. 135, 136 and understands 12

that the words `of one dying without having a son' (grand son or great grand

son) are to be supplied before Yajnavalkya II. 138 from II. 136, i.e., there is

to be anusanga of the word `svaryatasya-putrasya'.

26. In our opinion, in the present case, the Anusanga principle of

Mimansa should be utilized and the expression `relevant subject' should

also be inserted in the qualification for the post of Reader after the words

"at the Master's degree level". Hence, we cannot accept the submission of

Mr. Patwalia in this respect.

27. However, we agree with Mr.Patwalia that since academic experts

have regarded Political Science and Public Administration to be one

discipline, it is not right for this Court to sit in appeal over the opinion of

the experts.

28. Mr. Patwalia, learned counsel has pointed out that for the posts of

Reader and Lecturer in Public Administration and Political Science, a large

number of appointments have been made in the respondent-university as

well as in the higher education department of Haryana treating Political

Science and Public Administration as one discipline. There are a large

number of persons who have an M.A. & Ph. D. degrees in Political Science 13

and are working as teachers in Public Administration department, and vice

versa.

29. In Tariq Islam vs. Aligarh Muslim University & Ors. (2001) 8

SCC 546, following its earlier decision in the Constitution Bench of this

Court in University of Mysore vs. C.D. Govinda Rao, AIR 1965 SC 491

this Court observed that "normally it is wise and safe for the Courts to leave

the decision of academic matters to experts who are more familiar with the

problems they face than the courts generally are".

30. A similar view has been expressed in several decisions of this Court

e.g. Dr. Uma Kant vs. Dr. Bhika Lal Jain JT 1991 (4) SC 75 (para 9),

Bhushan Uttam Khare vs. The Dean, B. J. Medical College& Ors. JT

1992(1) SC 583 (para 8), Rajender Prasad Mathur vs. Karnataka

University & Anr. AIR 1986 SC 1448 (para 7) = 1986 Supp. SCC 740

(para 7), P.M. Bhargava & Ors. vs. U. G. C. & Anr. 2004 (6) SCC 661

(Para 13), Chairman, J&K State Board of Education vs. Feyaz Ahmed

Malik & Ors (2000) 3 SCC 59, Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya &

Anr. vs. Dr. Rajkishore Tripathi & Anr. (1977) 1 SCC 279 (para 12),

Medical Council of India vs. Sarang & Ors. (2001) 8 SCC 427 (para 6), 14

Bhagwan Singh & Anr. vs. State of Punjab & Ors. (1999) 9 SCC 573

(para 6).

31. It may be mentioned that on a clarification sought from the UGC

whether a candidate who possesses a Master's degree in Public

Administration is eligible for the post of Lecturer in Political Science and

vice-versa, the UGC wrote a letter dated 5.3.1992 to the Registrar M.D.

University, Rohtak stating that the subject of Political Science and Public

Administration are inter-changeable and inter-related, and a candidate who

possesses Master's degree in Public Administration is eligible as Lecturer in

Political Science and vice-versa. Thus, this is the view of the UGC, which is

an expert in academic matters, and the Court should not sit in appeal over

this opinion and take a contrary view.

32. Learned counsel for the appellant has also pointed out that a large

number of universities in this country have a single department for both the

subjects of Political Science and Public Administration, and this also

demonstrates that the subjects Political Science and Public Administration

are inter-changeable and inter-related. Political Science is the mother

subject and Public Administration is the offshoot of the same. 15

33. We agree with Mr. Patwalia, learned counsel, that it is not appropriate

for this Court to sit in appeal over the opinion of the experts who are of the

view that Political Science and Public Administration are inter-related and

inter-changeable subjects, and hence a candidate who possesses Master's

degree in Public Administration is eligible for the post of Lecturer in

Political Science and vice-versa. We are told that a large number of persons

having qualifications in the inter-changeable/inter-related subjects have

been appointed Readers/Professors/Lecturers and are continuing as such in

various colleges and universities in the State.

34. In paragraph 5 of the counter affidavit filed by the respondent-

university before the High Court, it has been specifically stated therein that

Public Administration is one of the branches of Political Science, and the

appellant was selected by a selection committee consisting of eminent

experts after evaluating his qualifications and work.

35. As regards the decision in Dr. Bhanu Prasad Panda vs. Chancellor,

Sambalpur University (supra), we have carefully perused the same. In

paragraph 5 of the said judgment it has been observed:

"Though the Department concerned for which the appointment is to be made is that of `Political Science and Public Administration', the 16

appointment with which we are concerned, is of Lecturer in Political Science and not Public Administration and subject-matterwise they are different and not one and the same. It is not in controversy that the posts of Lecturers in Public Administration and in Political Science are distinct and separate and on selection the appellant could not have been appointed as Lecturer in Public Administration."

36. A perusal of the above passage shows that the observation that

Political Science and Public Administration are distinct and separate

subjects was apparently given on a concession, because what has been

stated therein is that "it is not in controversy" that the post of Lecturer in

Public Administration and Political Science are distinct and separate. The

use of the words `it is not in controversy' shows that a concession was made

on the point by learned counsel for the respondent in that case. Hence the

observation cannot be regarded as a precedent.

37. Moreover, no reasoning has been given in the aforesaid passage

(quoted above) as to why it has been held that Political Science and Public

Administration are distinct and separate subjects.

38. The decision of a Court is a precedent if it lays down some principle

of law supported by reasons. Mere casual observations or directions

without laying down any principle of law and without giving reasons does

not amount to a precedent.

17

39. In State of Punjab vs. Baldev Singh (1999) 6 SCC 172, a

Constitution Bench of this Court observed (vide para 43) that a decision is

an authority for what it decides (i.e. the principle of law it lays down), and

not that everything said therein constitutes a precedent.

40. In Divisional Controller, KSRTC vs. Mahadeva Shetty and

Another (2003) 7 SCC 197 (vide para 23), this Court observed that the only

thing binding as an authority upon a subsequent Judge is the principle upon

which the case was decided.

41. As observed by this Court in State of Orissa vs. Sudhansu Sekhar

Misra (AIR 1968 SC 647 vide para 13):-

"A decision is only an authority for what it actually decides. What is of the essence in a decision is its ratio and not every observation found therein nor what logically follows from the various observations made in it. On this topic this is what Earl of Halsbury, LC said in Quinn v. Leathem, 1901 AC 495:

"Now before discussing the case of Allen v. Flood (1898) AC 1 and what was decided therein, there are two observations of a general character which I wish to make, and one is to repeat what I have very often said before, that every judgment must be read as applicable to the particular facts proved, or assumed to be proved, since the generality of the expressions which may be found there are not intended to be expositions of the whole law, but governed and qualified by the particular facts of the case in which such expressions are to be found. The other is that a case is only an authority for 18

what it actually decides. I entirely deny that it can be quoted for a proposition that may seem to follow logically from it. Such a mode of reasoning assumes that the law is necessarily a logical Code, whereas every lawyer must acknowledge that the law is not always logical at all."

(Emphasis supplied)

42. In Ambica Quarry Works vs. State of Gujarat & others (1987) 1

SCC 213 (vide para 18) this Court observed:-

"The ratio of any decision must be understood in the background of the facts of that case. It has been said long time ago that a case is only an authority for what it actually decides, and not what logically follows from it."

43. In Bhavnagar University vs. Palitana Sugar Mills Pvt. Ltd (2003)

2 SC 111 (vide para 59), this Court observed:-

"It is well settled that a little difference in facts or additional facts may make a lot of difference in the precedential value of a decision."

(Emphasis supplied)

44. As held in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. & another vs.

N.R.Vairamani & another (AIR 2004 SC 4778), a decision cannot be

relied on without disclosing the factual situation. In the same Judgment this

Court also observed:

"Court should not place reliance on decisions without discussing as to how the factual situation fits in with the fact 19

situation of the decision on which reliance is placed. Observations of Courts are neither to be read as Euclid`s theorems nor as provisions of the statute and that too taken out of the context. These observations must be read in the context in which they appear to have been stated. Judgments of Courts are not to be construed as statutes. To interpret words, phrases and provisions of a statute, it may become necessary for judges to embark into lengthy discussions but the discussion is meant to explain and not to define. Judges interpret statutes, they do not interpret judgments. They interpret words of statutes; their words are not to be interpreted as statutes.

In London Graving dock co. Ltd. vs. Horton (1951 AC 737 at p. 761), Lord Mac Dermot observed:

"The matter cannot, of course, be settled merely by treating the ipsissima vertra of Willes, J. as though they were part of an Act of Parliament and applying the rules of interpretation appropriate thereto. This is not to detract from the great weight to be given to the language actually used by that most distinguished judge."

In Home Office vs. Dorset Yacht Co. (1970 (2) All ER 294) Lord Reid said, "Lord Atkin`s speech .... is not to be treated as if it was a statute definition it will require qualification in new circumstances." Megarry, J. in (1971)1 WLR 1062 observed: "One must not, of course, construe even a reserved judgment of Russell L. J. as if it were an Act of Parliament." And, in Herrington v. British Railways Board (1972 (2) WLR 537) Lord Morris said:

"There is always peril in treating the words of a speech or judgment as though they are words in a legislative enactment, and it is to be remembered that judicial utterances are made in the setting of the facts of a particular case."

20 Circumstantial flexibility, one additional or different fact may make a world of difference between conclusions in two cases. Disposal of cases by blindly placing reliance on a decision is not proper.

The following words of Lord Denning in the matter of applying precedents have become locus classicus:

"Each case depends on its own facts and a close similarity between one case and another is not enough because even a single significant detail may alter the entire aspect, in deciding such cases, one should avoid the temptation to decide cases (as said by Cardozo, J. ) by matching the colour of one case against the colour of another. To decide therefore, on which side of the line a case falls, the broad resemblance to another case is not at all decisive."

*** *** ***

"Precedent should be followed only so far as it marks the path of justice, but you must cut the dead wood and trim off the side branches else you will find yourself lost in thickets and branches. My plea is to keep the path of justice clear of obstructions which could impede it."

45. In view of the above, we are of the opinion that the decision of this

Court in Dr. Bhanu Prasad Panda's case (supra) cannot be read as a

Enclid's formula or treated as a precedent, since it has not given any reason

for holding that Political Science and Public Administration are distinct and

separate subjects, and since the aforesaid decision was given on a

concession.

21

46. For the foregoing reasons, we are of the opinion that the impugned

judgment and order of the High Court cannot be sustained and it is hereby

set aside. The appeal is allowed and the writ petition filed in the High Court

stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

....... .............................J. (Markandey Katju) New Delhi;

August 6, 2008 22

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NOS. ________ OF 2008 (Arising out of S.L.P.( C) Nos.19142 OF 2006)

Dr.Rajbir Singh Dalal ...Appellant

Vs.

Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa & Another ...Respondents

JUDGMENT

Altamas Kabir, J.

1. Having had the benefit of going through

my learned brother's draft judgment, I

wish to indicate my own views in

arriving at the same conclusion as

arrived at by my learned brother but by

traversing a different route. Since the

facts of the case have been adequately

dealt with by my learned brother, I 23

shall confine myself to the legal

aspect only.

2. In my view, the main question which

falls for consideration in this appeal

is whether the appellant, who has a

post graduate degree and Ph.D in

Political Science could have been

appointed as Reader in Public

Administration by the respondent

University. The answer to the

connected question, which flows from

the first, as to whether the High Court

was right in quashing the appellant's

appointment as Reader in Public

Administration, depends on the answer

to the first.

3. As has been pointed out by my learned

brother, the University has in its

counter affidavit taken a stand that

Public Administration is one of the 24

branches of Political Science and the

Selection Committee comprised of

eminent scholars had rightly chosen the

appellant for the post of Reader after

considering his academic achievements

and also relying upon the view of the

University Grants Commission in its

letter dated 5.3.1992 stating that the

subject of Political Science and Public

Administration are interchangeable and

inter-related and that a candidate who

possesses a Masters degree in Public

Administration is eligible to be

appointed as Lecturer in Political

Science. Similarly, a candidate

possessing a Masters Degree in

Political Science is eligible for

appointment to the post of Lecturer in

Public Administration.

25

4. Despite the aforesaid views expressed

by the expert bodies such as the

University and the University Grants

Commission, the High Court has held

Public Administration and Political

Science to be distinct and separate

disciplines. In arriving at such

conclusion, the High Court has relied

on a decision of this Court in Dr.

Bhanu Prasad Panda V. Chancellor,

Sambalpur University, (2001) 8 SCC

532), wherein this Court had held

Public Administration and Political

Science to be two separate disciplines.

Further reliance has been placed by the

High Court on Regulation 2 of the

University Grants Commission Rules to

arrive at the finding that for

appointment to the post of Reader a 26

candidate would have to be qualified in

the relevant subject.

5. As has also been commented upon by my

learned brother, the distinction made

by the High Court between Public

Administration and Political Science in

Dr. Bhanu Prasad Panda's case (supra)

is not based on any jurisprudential

reasoning but on the basis of a

personal evaluation of the prevailing

circumstances. On the other hand, in

the instant case, both the University

and the University Grants Commission,

have supported the stand of the

appellant and have filed affidavits in

support thereof. In deciding Dr. Bhanu

Prasad Panda's case (supra), this Court

did not have the benefit of the views

of the University and the University

Grants Commission and the conclusion 27

was arrived at on the basis of a

personal understanding of Public

Administration and Political Science.

6. This is where the distinction lies

between the decision in Dr. Bhanu

Prasad Panda's case (supra) and the

case in hand.

7. The recruitment Rules followed by the

University clearly indicates that in

order to be appointed as Lecturer in a

particular discipline a candidate must

have a post-graduate degree in the

relevant subject. On the other hand,

for appointment to the post of Reader

such a condition has not been

specified. In fact, in Regulation 2 it

has been generally indicated that no

person shall be appointed to a teaching

post in the University or in any

institution, including constituent or 28

affiliated colleges recognized under

the UGC Act, 1956, or any institution

deemed to be a University under Section

3 of the said Act, in a subject, if

he/she does not fulfil the requirement

as to the qualifications for the

appropriate subject.

8. In my view, the omission in the

Regulations cannot be said to be

unintentional or a case of casus

omissus. In my view, the expression

`appropriate subject' was intended to

cover the post of Reader and once the

expert bodies had indicated that the

appellant who held a post-graduate

degree in Political Science was

eligible to be appointed to the post of

Reader in Public Administration and had

been rightly appointed to such post, it

is normally not for the Courts to 29

question such opinion, unless it has

specialised knowledge of the subject.

9. Significantly, the decision in Dr.

Bhanu Prasad Panda's case (supra) does

not reflect the aforesaid position and

does not also indicate the reason why

and on what basis such a decision

holding Public Administration and

Political Science to be two distinct

disciplines had been arrived at.

10. In such circumstances, I agree with my

learned brother that the judgment of

the High Court impugned in this appeal

cannot be sustained. The appeal is

accordingly allowed; the writ petition

filed in the High Court by the

respondent-University is dismissed and

the appointment of the respondent as

Reader in Public Administration is

upheld. 30

11. There will be no order as to costs.

.....................................J. (Altamas Kabir) New Delhi Dated: August 6, 2008