Pompi Das v. the State of Assam and 6 Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
'Relevant subject' eligibility in Assistant Professor recruitment; UGC Regulations 2010 and O.M. No. AHE-239/2021/68 dt. 24.01.2022; M.Sc Geographical Information Science vs Master's in Geography; allied/subsidiary discipline debate; binding force of advertisement terms; ambiguity in advertisement cannot prejudice plainly qualified candidate; limits of writ-court review of Expert Selection Committee (Dalpat Abasaheb Solunke principle acknowledged but case distinguished); Ganapath Singh Gangaram Singh Rajput v. Gulbarga University (2014) 3 SCC 767 followed; Punjab University v. Narinder Kumar (1999) 9 SCC 8 distinguished; Gauhati HC DB order dt. 08.08.2017 in WA 106/2016 distinguished; RTI-disclosed selection marks (63.58 vs 62.17); SC-reserved Geography post, Tinsukia College; appointment set aside with direction to deem petitioner top of merit.
What did the court decide?
Appointment of respondent no.7 as Assistant Professor (Geography), Tinsukia College interfered with; respondents directed to forthwith conclude the selection procedure by deeming the petitioner (average 62.17, placed second behind respondent no.7's 63.58) as the top-of-merit candidate; Registry to keep the written submissions of respondent nos. 5 & 6 as part of the record; no order as to costs.