Cuttack: Orissa high court has said that any action based on the final gradation list for promotion/appointment of principals in govt–aided colleges will be subject to the outcome of a petition challenging the legality and procedural correctness of the list released by the state govt on March 21.
The bench of Justice Biraja Prasanna Satapathy issued the interim order on Thursday, while issuing notice to the state govt on the petition which contended that the new gradation list did not adhere to previous court directives giving priority to the date of promotion to reader over the original date of appointment.
Pradipta Kumar Sahoo, an English professor, filed the petition. Making submissions on the petitioner’s behalf, advocate B K Mishra contended that the impugned list violates the principle of seniority.
While directing to list the matter in the week commencing July 7, Justice Satapathy said, “As an interim measure, it is directed that any further action taken basing on the impugned final gradation list shall be subject to final outcome of the petition.”
According to the petition, the state govt had on Aug 31, 2020 issued a guideline that prescribed fixing seniority of teachers on the basis of date of birth for the purpose of appointment of principal and heads of departments of non-govt colleges.
But HC quashed the guideline on July 11, 2022, invalidated the consequent circular issued on Jan 1, 2022, and directed the state govt to issue fresh norms by taking into consideration date of entry into service as the basis for seniority.
The outcome of the petition assumes significance as the state govt’s final gradation list is aimed to streamline appointments to principal posts.