IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 05.02.2008
C O R A M :
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.DINAKARAN
and
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.REGUPATHI
W.A.Nos.3779 anf 4115 of 2004
Dr.R.Uma ... Appellant in
WA.3779/04
Lakshmi College of Education,
rep. by its Secretary,
Gandhigram. ... Appellant in
WA.4115/04
-vs-
1. R.Amudha Rani
2. The State of Tamilnadu,
rep. by the Secretary to
Government, Dept. Of Education,
Chennai.
3. The Joint Director of Collegiate
Education, Madurai.
4. Madurai Kamaraj University,
rep. by its Registrar,
Madurai. ... Respondents 1-4
in both WAs.
5. Lakshmi College of Education,
rep. by its Secretary,
Gandhigram. ... 5th Respondent in WA.3779/04
5. Dr.R.Uma ... 5th Respondent
in WA.4115/04
Appeals against the order of this Court dated 20.9.2004 made in W.P.No.9317 of 1997.
For Appellant in :: Mr.R.Thiagarajan, S.C.
WA.3779/04 and for M/s.K.Bhaskar &
for R-5 in WA. P.Shankar Narayanan
4115/04
For Respondents :: Mr.B.Ravi
for R.Subramanian/R-1
:: Mr.V.Vijayashankar for
appellant in WA.4115/04 and
R-5 in WA.3779/04
:: Mr.S.Sethuraman for R-4
:: Mr.Jothi Manian, G.A./RR-2 & 3
*****
JUDGMENT
(Delivered by P.D.DINAKARAN, J.)
The above writ appeals are directed against the order of the learned single Judge dated 20.09.2004 made in W.P.No.9317 of 1997. W.A.No.3779 of 2004 has been preferred by the fifth respondent in the writ petition and W.A.No.4115 of 2004 has been preferred by the fourth respondent-College, challenging the appointment of the fifth respondent in the writ petition namely Dr.Uma, to the post of Lecturer in Physical Sciences (Education) in the fourth respondent-College.
2.For the sake of convenience, the appellant in W.A.No. 3779 of 2004 and the appellant in W.A.No.4115 of 2004 will be referred to as appellant/incumbent and appellant/College.
3.The core contention of the first respondent/writ petitioner is that the appellant/incumbent does not possess the required minimum qualification for being selected and appointed as Lecturer in Physical Sciences (Education) in the appellant-College. The said contention is strongly rebutted by the appellants contending that the appellant/ incumbent possessed the minimum required qualification for being selected and appointed as Lecturer in the college. Agreeing with the case of the writ petitioner, and rejecting the case of the appellants, the learned single Judge quashed the appointment of the appellant/incumbent to the post of Lecturer in Physical Sciences (Education) and directed the appellant-College to appoint the first respondent/writ petitioner to the post of Lecturer in Physical Sciences (Education) in the place of the appellant/incumbent. Hence, these appeals.
4.It is pertinent to note that even though the third respondent in these appeals, viz. Madurai Kamaraj University, by proceedings dated 10.2.1997, initially refused to approve the the appointment of the appellant/ incumbent, namely, Dr.R.Uma as Lecturer in Physical Sciences (Education), on a further representation, the University, by proceedings dated 23.4.1998, approved the appointment of the appellant/incumbent to the said post.
5.Heard the respective learned counsel appearing for the appellants herein and for the writ petitioner as well as the learned Government Advocate, who reiterated their submissions made before the learned single Judge.
6.There cannot be any dispute that the requirement to satisfy the minimum qualification is mandatory or otherwise the appointment of any person, who lacks minimum required qualification, is not only invalid but also illegal.
7.1.To decide whether the appellant/incumbent possessed the minimum required qualification at the time of her selection, it is apt to refer what is the required qualification for the post of Lecturer in Physical Sciences (Education).
7.2. As per the proceedings of the third respondent/ University dated 15.10.1993, the required qualification for the post of Lecturer in Training College/Lecturer in Education, is
“M.A./M.Sc./M.Com with atleast 55% of mark and M.Ed. with atleast 55% Marks”
and for the post of Lecturer in Optional Subjects,
“M.A./M.Sc./M.Com. in the relevant subject with atleast 55% marks or its equivalent grade and M.Ed with atleast 55% marks or the equivalent grade.”
The above required qualifaction prescribed by the third respondent/University is in tune with the qualification prescribed by the University Grants Commission, which reads thus:-
“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, C, D, E and F at 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 upto 31st December, 1993, are exempted from appearing in the NET examination.”
8.For the purpose of clarity, we propose to extract the qualification of the appellant/incumbent and the first respondent/writ petitioner as hereunder:-
———————————————————-
Qualification of Qualification of
appellant/incumbent first respondent/
Writ Petitioner
———————————————————-
1. M.Sc. in Applied Science M.Sc. In Physical Science
2. M.Ed. M.Ed. in Education
3. - M.Phil in Education
4. Ph.D. in Chemistry
NET in Applied Science &
Rural Development
----------------------------------------------------------
9.Of course, the post sought to be filled up is a Lecturer in Physical Sciences (Education). While the appellant/incumbent possessed M.Sc. in Applied Science, the first respondent/writ petitioner possessed M.Sc. in Physical Science, which is the relevant subject. Both the candidates also possessed M.Ed. in Education and while the first respondent/writ petitioner possessed M.Phil. in Education, the appellant/incumbent possessed qualification of Doctorate, viz., Ph.D. in her parent subject Chemistry, apart from passing National Educational Test (NET), at Master’s level in Applied Science in Rural Development.
10.The main contention of the appellants is that M.Sc. in Applied Sciences is equivalent to M.Sc. in Physical Sciences. However, the learned single Judge rejecting the argument of the appellants and accepting the case of the writ petitioner held that the writ petitioner alone possessed the required qualification in the relevant subject, viz. Physical Sciences and hence, refusal to select and appoint the writ petitioner is arbitrary and therefore, the selection and appointment of the appellant/incumbent is illegal on the ground that she does not possess the minimum required qualification, viz. M.Sc. in Physical Sciences.
11.In this connection, we have the benefit of the proceedings dated 2.6.1988 of the Bharathidasan University, which also comes under the University Grants Commission. In the said proceedings dated 2.6.1988, the recognition granted to M.Sc. Applied Science for Rural Development course offered by the Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram as equivalent to M.Sc. Chemistry degree course of Bharathidasan University for the purpose of higher studies in Bharathidasan University, was ratified. Unfortunately, this aspect of the case of the appellant/incumbent was not appreciated by the learned single Judge in a proper perspective while holding that the appellant/incumbent does not possess the required minimum qualification.
12.Once the doubt, whether M.Sc. in Applied Sciences is equivalent to M.Sc. in Physical Sciences, stands clarified by the proceedings of the Bharathidasan University dated 2.6.1988, we do not see any reason to disqualify the appellant/incumbent holding that she does not possess the minimum required qualification; on the other hand, she being a Ph.D. graduate in Chemistry and also having passed NET in the Applied Science in Rural Development, in our considered opinion, she is more qualified than the writ petitioner. Therefore, finding it difficult to sustain the impugned order, we are convinced to allow the writ appeals.
13.In the result, the writ appeals stand allowed and the order of the learned single Judge dated 20.9.2004 made in W.P.No.9317 of 1997 is set aside. No costs. However, we give liberty to the first respondent/writ petitioner to approach the appellant/College for any suitable vacancy that may exist or arise in future and the appellant/College shall consider her case for such suitable vacancies.
sra
To
1. The Secretary
Government of Tamilnadu,
Department of Education,
Chennai.
2. The Joint Director of Collegiate
Education, Madurai.
3. The Registrar,
Madurai Kamaraj University,
Madurai.