WRIT PETITION 3849 of 2019 on 7 December 2018

1. G. Sarojini Devi, W/o C.Devendran, aged about 44[years,][ working][ as]Assistant Professor o/o Sri KalahasteeswaraInstitute[of][ Technology,]Panagal,Srikalahasthi,TirupathiR/o12-581,Bahadurpet,Thettu,Srikalahasti, Chittoor District, A.P.Assistant Professor o/o Sri KalahasteeswaraInstitute[of][ Technology,]Panagal,Srikalahasthi,TirupathiR/o12-581,Bahadurpet,Thettu,Srikalahasti, Chittoor District, A.P.

...RESPONDENT/WRIT PETITIONER2. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Represented by its[Principal][ Secretary,]Endowments Department, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Guntur[District,][ A.P.]Endowments Department, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Guntur[District,][ A.P.]

of Technology (SKIT), Represented by its

3. Sri Kalahasteeswara InstituteChairman of Governing Body and Commissioner of EndowmentsDepartment, Ibrahimpatnam, Vijayawada,Chairman of Governing Body and Commissioner of EndowmentsDepartment, Ibrahimpatnam, Vijayawada,

of Technology (SKIT), Represented by its4.Sri Kalahasteeswara InstituteExecutive Officer cumCorrespondent, Srikalahasteeswara SwamivariSrikalahasti, Chittoor District, A.P.Executive Officer cumCorrespondent, Srikalahasteeswara SwamivariSrikalahasti, Chittoor District, A.P.Devasthanams,Technological University (JNTU), Ananthapur, rep. byTechnological University (JNTU), Ananthapur, rep. by5. Jawaharlal Nehruits Registrar, Ananthapur.its Registrar, Ananthapur.

6. Satyabhama University, rep. by its Registrar, JeppiarNagar, Rajiv Gandhi Road

...RESPONDENTS/ RESPONDENTS

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in thecircumstancesof the petition, the High Court may bestated in the affidavit filed in supportI.A.No.1of2018invacatetheinterimorder passedinpleasedtoWP.No.3849 of 2019 dt.22.03:2019[pending][ disposal][ of][ the][ above][ Writ]petition, counsel for the Petitioner: SRI K. SATYANARAYANA MURTHY

counsel for the Respondent Nos.1, 2 & 4: GP FOR ENDOWMENTSCounsel for the Respondent No.3: SRI G. RAMANA RAO,SC FOR

endowments

counsel for the Respondent No.5: SRI V. VENU GOPAL,[SC][ FOR][ JNTUA]

Counsel for the Respondent No.6:—The Court made the following: ORDER

APHC010087292019

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESHAT AMARAVATI(Special Original Jurisdiction)

WEDNESDAY, THE THIRTIETH DAY OF APRILTWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA

WRIT PETITION NO: 3849/2019

Between:

1. G SAROJINI DEVI, W/0 C.DEVENDRAN AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS,WORKINGASASSISTANTPROFESSOR0/0SRIKALAHASTEESWARA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,PANAGAL,SRIKALAHASTHI, TIRUPATHI R/0 12-581, BAHADURPET, THETTU,SRIKALAHASTI, CHITTOOR DISTRICT, A.P.WORKINGASASSISTANTPROFESSOR0/0SRIKALAHASTEESWARA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,PANAGAL,SRIKALAHASTHI, TIRUPATHI R/0 12-581, BAHADURPET, THETTU,SRIKALAHASTI, CHITTOOR DISTRICT, A.P.

...PETITIONER

AND1.THESTATEOFAP,,REPRESENTEDBYITSPRINCIPALSECRETARY,ENDOWMENTSDEPARTMENT,SECRETARIAT,VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, A.P.SECRETARY,ENDOWMENTSDEPARTMENT,SECRETARIAT,VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, A.P.2. SRIKALAHASTEESWARAINSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYSKIT,REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN OF GPVERNING BODY ANDCOMMISSIONEROFENDOWMENTSDEPARTMENT,IBRAHIMPATNAM, VIJAYAWADA.REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN OF GPVERNING BODY ANDCOMMISSIONEROFENDOWMENTSDEPARTMENT,IBRAHIMPATNAM, VIJAYAWADA.3 SRIKALAHASTEESWARAINSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYSKIT,REPRESENMDBYITSEXECUTIVEOFFICERCUMCORRESPONDENT,SRIKALAHASTEESWARASWAMIVARIDEVASTHANAMS, SRIKALAHASTI, CHITTOOR DISTRICT, A.P.REPRESENMDBYITSEXECUTIVEOFFICERCUMCORRESPONDENT,SRIKALAHASTEESWARASWAMIVARIDEVASTHANAMS, SRIKALAHASTI, CHITTOOR DISTRICT, A.P.4.THEPRINCIPAL,SRIKAJAHASTEESWARAINSTITUTEOFTECHNOLOGY (SKIT), SRIKALAHASTI, CHITTOOR DISTRICT,[A.P.]TECHNOLOGY (SKIT), SRIKALAHASTI, CHITTOOR DISTRICT,[A.P.]5.JAWAHARLALNEHRUTECHNOLOGICALUNIVERSITYJNTU,ANANTHAPUR, REP. BY ITS REGISTRAR, ANANTHAPUR.ANANTHAPUR, REP. BY ITS REGISTRAR, ANANTHAPUR.6.SATYABHAMA UNIVERSITY,REP. BY ITS REGISTRAR, JEPPIARNAGAR, RAJIV GANDHI ROAD,NAGAR, RAJIV GANDHI ROAD,

...RESPONDENT(S):

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. K SATYANARAYANA MURTHY

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. G RAMANA RAO (SC FOR ENDOWMENTS RAYALASEEMAREGION)

2. GP FOR ENDOWMENTS (AP)

The Court made the following:

ORDER:

This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution[of India][ with]

the following prayer for;

2.

....aawrit of Certiorari calling for all the connected recordsincluding the impugned proceedings Rc.No.SKIT-Recovery[of][ excess]amount/2018 dated 07.12.2018 and quashthe same asillegal,improper, unjust, arbitrary and violative of principles[of][ natural][ justice]and further declare that the petitioner is entitled[to][ be][ continued][ as]Assistant Professor (E and EE Branch) in the time scale[attached][ to]the pot with all consequential benefits Including monetary,[seniority]and promotion.”

Heard Sri K.Satyanarayana Murthy, learned counsel for[the][ Petitioner]

and Sri V. Venu Gopal, learned Standing Counsel for[the][ University.]

3. Learned counsel for the Petitioner would submit that,[no][ notice][ was]issued to the Petitioner before ordering recovery and[reducing][ the][ basic][ pay][ of]the Petitioner, which is the violation of principles[of][ natural][ justice.]Learnedcounsel would further submit that Respondent No.6 is[a][ Deemed][ University.]Itis submitted that the degree obtained by the Petitioner[from][ Respondent][ No.6-]

Univeristy is recognized under law.

4. Learned Standing Counsel for the University fairly[conceded][ that][ the]amount was deducted from the salary of the Petitioner[without][ issuing][ any]notice to her.Learned counsel would further submit[that][ the][ Court][ may][ pass]appropriate orders.

5. Inthepresentmatter.RespondentNo.3issuedtheimpugnedProceedings dated 07.12.2018 ordering recovery of amount[and][ to][ reduce][ the]basic pay of the Petitioner as recommended byDistrict[Auditory][ for][ the]

has not obtained study leave while pursuingreasonsthat thePetitionerNo.6-University, that the degree obtained fromM.Tech., from RespondenttheletterissuedbyRespondentNo.6-Universityisnotvalidasperthat the District Auditor recommended for recoveryRespondent No.5 andsince M.Tech., degree is not valid.

informedvideLetter6.Admittedly, Respondent-JNTU, AnantapuramuM.Tech from Respondent No.6is notdated 19.11.2018 that the weekendthe fact that the Petitioner herein securedvalid.There is no dispute aboutRespondent No.6-University in the years 2010M.Tech., weekend degree fromorder of the Petitioner would show that, on theand 2011.The appointmenttheresolutionof therecommendation of the selection committee, as perTheAssistantAssistantProfessor.general body, he was appointed asto obtain M.Tech., / M.E degree in theirProfessors with B.Tech Degree hasrecognized University within a period of five yearsrespective branch from awillforfeittheirincrementsandfromtheirdateofjoining,else,theypromotions.

Petitioner obtained M.Tech., from Respondent7.In the present case, thesecured increments from time to time.Several yearsNo.6 - University andthereafter, suddenly theimpugned proceedings dated 07.12.2018 were issuedNo.4 to take action for recovery ofby Respondent No.3 directing Respondentfrom the Petitioner within two months fromexcessamountof Rs.4,50,184/-thedate of the said proceedings.It is also not in dispute[that,][ no][ prior][ notice]

has been issued by giving an opportunity to the Petitioner to give her versionmuch less personal hearing.

8. It is brought to the notice of the Court that, the issue was placed beforethe Standing Committee for Academic Senate held on 09.10.2019[ at] JNTUAnanthapuramu in the presence of Vice Chancellor.The Registrar, JNTUA,addressed a letter to the Registrar of Respondent No.6 - University, which isextracted hereunder:

Prof. M. Vijaya KumarM. Tech, Ph. D.Registrar i/cDate:31-10-2019

ToThe Registrar,Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology(Deemed to be University)Jeppiar Nagar,CHENNAI 600 119.

Respected Sir,Sub:Sathyabama University, Chennai Recognizing the[Part-]TimeM.Tech.ProgramsofSathyabamaUniversity,Chennai as equivalent to Regular M.Tech. Programs-Reg.Sub:Sathyabama University, Chennai Recognizing the[Part-]TimeM.Tech.ProgramsofSathyabamaUniversity,Chennai as equivalent to Regular M.Tech. Programs-Reg.Ref:1.Letter writtenby the thenRegistrar,SathyabamaUniversity,ChennaitoTheRegistrar,JNTUAdated24.09.2019.2.Minutesof the Standing Committeefor AcademicUniversity,ChennaitoTheRegistrar,JNTUAdated24.09.2019.2.Minutesof the Standing Committeefor AcademicSenate ofJNTUA held on 9.10.2019.JNTUA held on 9.10.2019.

****

Itistoinform youthat videreference(1)cited,youhaverequested JNTUA to consider the Part-Time M.Tech. Programs[offered]bySathyabamaUniversity,ChennaiasequivalenttotheRegularM.Tech. Programs and Sathyabama University is not offering[and][ has]notofferedearlier any weekend mode M.TECH/M.Tech.Programs.Your letter along with all the documentary evidences such as approvalby AlCTE and UGC Guidelines have been submitted for perusal andapproval of the Standing Committee for Academic Senate[of] JNTUA.The Committee has considered this item and the following[resolution]was made.

programmes. M.Tech Programmes pursued byAccordingly, the Part-Timeconsideredasthe followingfaculty of SKIT, Srikalahasthi areequivalent to M.Tech. (Regular) programmes.

1 Smt.G.Sarojini Devi, Assistant Professor in EEE

2 Mr S.Narasimha Rao, Assistant Professor in EEE

3 Smt.M. Vijaya Laxmi. Assistant Professor in ECF

4. Smt. P. Uma Maheswari. Assistant Professor in ECE

5 Dr P Ravi Kiran. Assistant Professor in CSE

6. Sri A.Lakshmi Narayana, Assistant Professor in CSE

obtained by the Petitioner from Respondent

9. Considering the degreepromotedas Associatevalid,thePetitioner wasNo.6 -Universityasin Roc.No.3/teach Estt/2006 dated 30.05.2006.Professor vide Proceedings inis placed before the Academic Committee andHowever, thereafter, the matter isaddressed by JNTUAdecision and thereafter, a letter wasthey have taken aobtained positive orders. It is also not intoRespondent No.6-University andanopportunity to thedispute that, no prior notice has been issued by givingRespondentPetitioner to submit her version much less personal[hearing.]degree obtained by the Petitioner.It isNo.4 made office orders receiving theis not functioning since 2021.Petitioner is notrepresented that the college isworking in the College as the same is defunct.

not sustainable10.Viewed from any angle, the impugned proceedings arein violation of Principles of Natural Justice,since, they were issued indisposed of setting aside the impugned11.In the result, the Writ Petition isamount/2018datedinRc.No.SKIT-Recoveryof excessproceedings

take07.12.2018.However,RespondentNo.3-Collegeisatlibertytoappropriate steps,if so advised, by following due[process][ of law.][ There][ shall]be no order as to costs.

As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions,if any,[pending][ shall][ stand]closed.

Sd/- G HELA NAIDUASSISTANT REGISTRARSECTION OFFICER

//TRUE COPY//

To

The Principal Secretary, Endowments Department, Stateof AndhraPradesh, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Guntur District,[A.P.]Pradesh, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Guntur District,[A.P.]

1. T:heChairman of Governing Body and Commissioner of Endowments

2. heDepartment, Sri Kalahasteeswara Institute of Technology[(SKIT),]Ibrahimpatnam, Vijayawada.Department, Sri Kalahasteeswara Institute of Technology[(SKIT),]Ibrahimpatnam, Vijayawada.

3 The Executi\/e Officer cum Correspondent, Sri Kalahasteeswara' Insfifute of Technology (SKIT), Srikalahasteeswara[Swamivari]' Insfifute of Technology (SKIT), Srikalahasteeswara[Swamivari]

Devasthanarh^i Srikalahasti, Chittoor District, A.P.

4. The Principal, Sri KaJahasteeswara Institute of[Technology][ (SKIT),]

Srikalahasti, Chittoor District, A.P.

Jawaharlal Nehm Technological University (JNTU),5. The Registrar Ananthapur, Ananthapur.^u-GandhiGandhi6. TheRegistrar, Satyabhama University, Jeppiar Nagar, RajivRoad,Road,

7. One CC to Sri K. Satyanarayaha Murthy, Advocate[[OPUC]]8. One OneCC to Sri G. Ramana Rad, SC for Endowments[OPUC]8. One OneCC to Sri G. Ramana Rad, SC for Endowments[OPUC]

8. One One

9. One CC to Sri A. Srikanth Reddy, Advocate[OPUC]

10. One CC to Sri V. Venu Gopal, SC for JNTUA[OPUC]

11. Two CCs toGP for Endowments, High Court of Andhra Pradesh.[OUT][OUT]

12. Three CD Copies.Ssb (gsg)

HIGH COURT

DATED:30/04/2025

ORDERWP.No.3849 of 2019

DISPOSING OF THE W.P. WITHOUT COSTS

I

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