Navodita Priyadarshani v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.6307 of 2026 ====================================================== Navodita Priyadarshani wife of Rishi Anand, resident of U.N. Bagachi Road, Mashak Chak, Adampur P.S. Jagdishpur District- Bhagalpur, presently posted as Assistant Professor(senior scale), University Department of Zoology, T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1.
The State of Bihar through the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar. 2.
The Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary, Department of Education, Government of Bihar, Patna.
3.
The Director, Higher Education, Government of Bihar, Patna. 4.
Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur through its Registrar. 5.
The Vice Chancellor, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpu University, Bhagalpur. 6.
The Registrar, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr.Binodanand Mishra, Sr. Adv.
Ms.Sweta Kumari, Adv.
Ms.Saumya Sinha, Adv.
Mr.Gunjan Kumar Jha, Adv.
Mr.Sandeep Kumar For the State :
Mr.Addl. Advocate General (05) Mr.Alok Ranjan, Adv., AC to AAG 5 For TMBU University :
Mr.Ashhar Mustafa, Adv.
Ms.Anita Kumari, Adv.
====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK KUMAR SINHA ORAL ORDER 15-06-2026 Heard learned senior counsel for the petitioner, learned counsel appearing for the Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur and learned counsel appearing for the respondent-State.
2. With the consent of both the parties, this writ application is being disposed of at this stage itself.
3. In the present writ application, the petitioner has prayed for the grant of following reliefs:
2/4 "(i) For issuance of an order, direction or writ including writ in the nature of Mandamus commanding the Respondents to grant the maternity leave to the Petitioner from 1/2/2020 to 31/7/2020. (ii) For issuance of an order, direction or writ including writ in the nature of mandamus, commanding the respondents to release the salary of the petitioner for the maternity leave period from 1/2/2020 to 31/7/2020.
(iii) For issuance of an order, direction or writ including writ in the nature of Mandamus commanding the Respondents to count the maternity leave period for the purposes of teaching and working experience.
(iv) For issuance of an order, direction or writ including writ in the nature of mandamus, commanding the respondents to make payment of interest on the aforesaid lawful dues of the petitioner at the market rate.
(v) For issuance of an order, direction or writ including writ in the nature of mandamus, commanding the respondents to grant promotion to Assistant Professor (senior scale) to the Petitioner w.e.f 26/9/2023 instead of 1/8/2024. (vi) For issuance of an appropriate declaration holding that the salary of the maternity leave period has been illegally denied to the petitioner.
(vii) For issuance of an appropriate declaration holding that the petitioner is entitled for grant of promotion as Assistant Professor (senior scale) w.e.f.26/9/2023.
(viii) For issuance of an order, direction or writ in the nature of Mandamus commanding the Respondents to make adequate compensation to the Petitioner for the mental torture and humiliation suffered at the hands of the Respondent Authorities. (ix) For any other relief(s) to which the petitioner may be found entitled in the facts and circumstances of the present case."
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4. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner, after advancing some argument, submits that the case of the petitioner is squarely covered by a judgment of this Court dated 17.11.2025 passed in CWJC No. 14618 of 2024 (Annexure-P/10) and therefore he prays that the petitioner be granted the liberty to file a representation in light of the said judgment before the Vice Chancellor, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur. He further prays that an appropriate direction be issued to the Vice Chancellor, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur to dispose of the representation within a fixed time frame, after giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, in case the representation is filed in light of the order passed by this Court.
5. To the aforesaid submission being made by learned senior counsel for the petitioner, learned counsel appearing for the respondent-University and for the respondent-State do not have any objection.
6. Considering the limited nature of prayer being made by learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, this writ application is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to file an appropriate representation before the Vice Chancellor, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur within one month from today relying upon the judgment of this Court dated 17.11.2025 passed in CWJC No. 14618 of 2024 (Annexure-P/10). If such a
4/4 representation is filed within the stipulated time, the same shall be disposed of within a further period of three months from the date of receipt of the representation, after giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner.
7. Needless to emphasize that the final order which shall be passed by the Vice Chancellor, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur should be a reasoned and speaking order. It is further made clear that in case, the petitioner is found entitled to the relief which the petitioner would be claiming through the representation, the same should be extended to the petitioner within a further period of two months from the date of passing of the final order by the Vice Chancellor, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur.
8. With the aforesaid observation/direction and liberty granted, this writ application is disposed of. All pending interlocutory application(s), if any, shall also be deemed to have been disposed of.
(Alok Kumar Sinha, J) kundan/- U