Northeast Desk, 18th May: The Meghalaya High Court has ruled on a writ petition filed by an assistant professor from the Department of Computer Science at Women’s College, Shillong, challenging their termination in 2019.
The petitioner contested the termination, arguing that it was done without proper adherence to legal procedures. Alleging a lack of due process and violation of principles of natural justice, the petitioner sought reinstatement and consequential benefits from January 1, 2020.
However, the College countered these claims, asserting that the petitioner was appointed without an interview and conducted classes without a formal appointment order. Furthermore, it clarified that the Department of Computer Application was intended solely for the Higher Secondary Section, not the College, as university permission was never obtained.
The College informed the Court that the petitioner was offered a full-time position in the Higher Secondary section with revised terms, which was declined. It emphasized that the petitioner had no substantive right to the post as they were an ad hoc employee.
Upon examination of the facts, the Court noted that the petitioner’s position ceased to exist due to the bifurcation of the Higher Secondary section, with no sanctioned post available. Chief Justice S. Vaidyanathan concluded that the petition was not maintainable, leading to the dismissal of the writ petition.
The ruling underscores the importance of adherence to legal procedures and highlights the significance of obtaining proper authorization for appointments in educational institutions.
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