SC Quashes 1,158 Punjab Professor Appointments
The Supreme Court of India has cancelled the appointments of 1,158 assistant professors and librarians made by the Punjab government in 2021. The decision was issued by a bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K. Vinod Chandran, who found the process to be in violation of UGC norms and Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.
UGC Norms Bypassed
The Court observed that the state bypassed the standard Punjab Public Service Commission route and deviated from the 2018 UGC Regulations, which mandate a multi-stage evaluation. Instead of combining academic qualifications, interview performance, and a written exam, Punjab relied solely on a multiple-choice test. The court called this “arbitrary and unconstitutional.”
It also criticised the sudden and executive-driven change in rules as being politically motivated and inconsistent with national academic recruitment standards.
Fresh Hiring Within Six Months
The apex court has ordered the Punjab government to start a fresh recruitment process within six months, ensuring that all procedures align with UGC norms. The court’s verdict reversed a previous High Court division bench ruling from September 2024, which had upheld the appointments, and restored the findings of the August 2022 single-bench order that had struck them down.
Candidates Left in Limbo
Many of those appointed had already joined their posts and had been serving for over two years. Protests, including hunger strikes and sit-ins, were held by affected candidates after the initial legal setback. While the court acknowledged the disruption this causes to individual careers, it firmly stated that due process and merit-based evaluation cannot be ignored.
