Himachal HC orders cancellation of Zoology faculty appointment at Sardar Patel University
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source internet
Shimla, Sept 11,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has struck down the appointment of an Assistant Professor (Zoology) at Sardar Patel University, Mandi, after finding that the selection was tainted by fake documents, irregularities, and violations of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.
Justice Sandeep Sharma, while allowing a petition filed by Dr. Rahul Bhardwaj, ruled that Dr. Sarita Kumari’s appointment under Advertisement No. 01/2021 (issued during the Jai Ram Thakur-led government) was illegal.
The court observed that Dr. Kumari had been wrongly awarded 10 marks for teaching experience between 2004 and 2008, even though she only obtained the essential qualification of MPhil in 2008.
“10 marks could not have been awarded to respondent No.2 for experience during the years 2004 to 2008, since she did not possess the requisite qualification for appointment as Assistant Professor,” Justice Sharma noted.
Further, the court flagged serious discrepancies in her experience certificate from Eternal University, which admitted that its Zoology Department was established only in 2015.
“Experience of respondent No.2 of teaching in Eternal University is under clout, and this court expresses its surprise that how respondent No.1 has verified the experience, when at the first instance Eternal University itself denied having any record of respondent No.2 with it,” the judge remarked.
The petitioner had also raised allegations of nepotism, as the selected candidate’s husband was serving as Dean Academic Affairs at the same university. While the court did not conclusively confirm undue influence, it held that the recruitment process stood vitiated due to illegal award of marks and reliance on questionable documents.
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