Dr.Raj Kishore Mehra v. The State Of Bihar And ORS

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.12158 of 2010 ====================================================== Dr. Raj Kishore Mehra S/O Late Amar Nath Mehra R/O Moh Imli Tal, Danapur Cantt, P.O.& P.S.Danapur Cantt, Distt-Patna, presently posted as University Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Commerce, Patna .... .... Petitioner/s

Versus

1. The State of Bihar through Chief Secretary Government of Bihar, Old Secretariat, Patna

2. The Secretary-cum-Commissioner(Higher Education) Human Resource Department Government Of Bihar, New Secretariat, Patna

3. The Magadh University, Bodh Gaya through its Registrar Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Gaya

4. The Vice Chancellor Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Gaya

5. The Registrar Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Gaya

6. The Finance Officer Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Gaya

7. The Principal College of Commerce P.O.+P.S. Kankarbagh, DistrictPatna .... .... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Rajeev Lochan For the Respondent/s : Mr. (Aag10) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHIT KUMAR SHAH ORAL ORDER 18-09-2018 By an order dated 18.03.2013 passed in a batch of writ petitions i.e. CWJC No. 10032 of 2009 and other analogous cases, this Court, by the consent of the parties in all the cases had referred the matter of the colleges/universities teachers regarding determination of their qualifying period of service for the purpose of benefit of increment and promotion to the various posts, to One Man Committee headed by Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.N. Jha, a retired Judge of this Court.

Patna High Court CWJC No.12158 of 2010 (9) dt.18-09-2018 2/3 The relevant portion of the said order dated 18.03.2013, defining the terms of reference, is reproduced herein below:- "The term of reference of Justice Jha would be for determining the qualifying period of service of each and every teacher on whom notices have been served or action taken in furtherance to the observation of the High Court in the earlier Orders. It is made clear that no deliberation and exercise would be required to be made on the correctness or otherwise of the appointment or entry into service at the thresh-hold though it will have relevance to the above determination and exercise.

The issue of validity of appointments cannot be racked up now after more than two to three decades and there is an inherent presumption with regard to their continuance, taking into consideration the long span of service rendered by them. Justice Jha, however, would be obliged to give a hearing to the petitioners / teachers or their counsels and the university and the State Authorities are also free to assist Justice Jha in resolving an issue which has been pending for many many years due to protracted litigation. The Court leaves it to Justice Jha to make appropriate request or direction for the kind of logistics or support which he requires from the State Government for completing the task being conferred upon him by this Court."

Now the said One Man Committee headed by Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.N. Jha, a retired Judge of this Court, as also retired Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan High Court, has submitted his report consisting of orders/judgments passed by him with regard to the various writ petitioners as well as other employees of the Universities/Colleges.

As far as the present case is concerned, the aforesaid One Man Committee has passed order(s)/judgment which is on record of this case.

Patna High Court CWJC No.12158 of 2010 (9) dt.18-09-2018 3/3 This Court by an order dated 05.09.2018 passed in the writ petition i.e. CWJC No. 10032 of 2009 and other analogous cases had granted opportunity to the parties to file their objections, however, no objection has been filed either by the petitioners or by the respondents. The position is same in the present case. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the present writ petition is disposed off with a direction to the University to implement the order(s)/judgment passed by the aforesaid One Man Committee in the case of the petitioner herein within a period of two months from today.

It is needless to state that the parties would be at liberty to challenge the report of the One Man Committee, by way of a fresh writ petition, in case they are aggrieved by the order(s)/judgment passed by the aforesaid One Man Committee. It is further directed that in case any interim order is operating in the present case in favour of the petitioner, the same shall remain operative for a period of four weeks from today. The writ petition is disposed off with the aforesaid directions and liberty.

(Mohit Kumar Shah, J) S.Sb/- U