HC restrains Punjab Govt from going ahead with recruitment of Assistant Professors

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 4

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has restrained the Punjab Government from going ahead with the recruitment of Assistant Professors in government colleges. The direction came as the Bench termed as “wholly arbitrary and discriminatory” the decision to grant weightage in lieu of work experience only to the guest faculty, part timers and contractual teachers working in “government colleges of Punjab”. The order will remain in force till the next date of hearing, at least.

The matter was brought to Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu’s notice after a bunch of petitions were filed by Kulwinder Singh and other petitioners. They were represented by senior advocate Gaurav Chopra, counsel Anurag Chopra and Jagtar Singh Sidhu.

The Bench was told that a decision was taken to fill up 1158 posts of Assistant Professors in different subjects for government colleges in Punjab. Justice Sindhu asserted it was the respondents’ prime duty to attract the best talent in the interest of the students and the community at large.

Initially, the government vide memo dated October 18 decided to grant maximum five marks weightage in lieu of work experience to part time, guest faculty and contractual teachers working in the “government-run colleges”. It was incorporated in the advertisement as well. There was no interdict that the benefit would be restricted only to the teachers working in the “government colleges of Punjab”.

Justice Sindhu added the selection criterion was tinkered with during the ongoing selection process at its fag end. The benefit was restricted only to the guest faculty, part timers and contractual teachers working in “government colleges of Punjab”, without there being any lawful authority with the committee concerned.

Justice Sindhu added the decision dated November 28, debarring the guest faculty, part timers and contractual teachers from government colleges of other States to avail the benefit of weightage was wholly arbitrary and discriminatory as the respondents had failed to show any reasonable basis for making such a classification for the ongoing selection process.

“There is no option except to restrain the respondents till the next date of hearing from proceeding with the matter while taking shelter under the clarification dated November 28…,” Justice Sindhu added.