of India etc. but the main source of maintenance grant is from the State Government for meeting recurring expenditure on staff salaries as determined from time to time as it may deem fit. The letter also discloses that the University receives substantial amount in the shape of examination fee, tuition fee, funds etc. More importantly, the University stated before the Division Bench of this Court that the additional liability of this amount i.e. matter of pay scales would be met by the University from its overall sanctioned budget and no additional grant would be required from the State Government on this account. On these premises, the Division Bench proceeded to declare the petitioners therein entitled to the pay scale of Assistant Registrars but with the caveat that the State of Punjab would not be put to any financial burden on that account. The State of Punjab had filed an SLP against the order of the Division Bench which was converted to Civil Appeal No.11416 of 1997 and initially there was a stay order passed on 10.07.1997 and the matter was tagged with Civil Appeal Nos.9507-08, 9510 and 9131 of 1996. The final order in these matters were passed in State of Punjab & Anr. v. Sardari Lal & Ors. being Civil Appeal No.5088 of 1996 together with connected cases. The judgment of the Division Bench of this Court has been upheld by the Supreme Court vide order dated 28.11.2000. The crux of the issue decided is that the University is an autonomous body and the State Government would not be entitled to interfere with the internal administration of the University notwithstanding the fact that the State Government is the funding body, until and unless the University statutes provide for the same and there is an act of legislation conferring that power on the State Government.
