“Every Teacher Should Be Provided Chance To Become Head Department On Rotation Basis”: Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has announced that Panjab University should have a chance of headship to be a leader or head of a department on a rotation basis, does not matter if their post is junior and senior in the teaching staff.

What Court Says?

Justice Sanjay Vashisth of the High Court also mentioned it that the interpretation was strengthened by Rule 2.3 of the Panjab University Calendar on the rotation basis of headship within the teaching staff. The rule began with the expression ‘a person, instead of stating posts such as professor, reader, or lecturer.

Furthermore, he stated that the position of chairman or head of a department in a teaching department was not a promotion to a certain post. It was just a designation for a specific time period of 3 years at a given time.

He claimed that the designation was needed to follow up the rotation basis. The matter was undoubted by the parties in court that it would not matter the post that the suggested candidate was manning.

Moreover, “If the rotation of lecturers or assistant professors is continuing and another eligible lecturer with a minimum of eight years of teaching experience in the department is available, he can lead the department by being designated as chairman or head of the department, despite the availability of the professors or readers.”

Assistant Professor Bhavneet Bhatti subsequently posted as respondent as she used to be a designated chairperson or head for 3 years from October 1, 2022, after completing three years’ fixed term by Sumedha Singh during the petition’s pendency.

Justice Vashisth claimed the petitioner’s request for being posted as chairperson or head for the period during which Sumedha Singh was posted, on the ground of being available as a professor, seem to be misconceived.