The Patna High Court closed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking for an enquiry into the appointments made to the 9th respondent-college by the Governing Body.
Allegations have been raised of illegal siphoning of public money and widespread irregularities in the appointments made to the teaching/non teaching employees.
The Allegations are all levelled against the Governing Body of the 9th respondent-college; the members of which body have not been impleaded in their personal capacity.
The petitioner in the petition has also referred to certain persons, who are relatives of the Governing Body members and whose appointments are said to be illegal. These persons also have not been impleaded in the petition.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Partha Sarthy noted from the averments that the Registrar of the respondent-University has issued notice to the Governing Body with respect to some of the appointments and there is an enquiry initiated by the University into the selection process of Assistant Professors in the respondent-College. The Director (Higher Education) Government of Bihar, has, by letter dated 27.07.2022, sought for the report of the Committee from the University and also the details of the action taken. “There is no scope for the public interest litigation, especially since the allegations levelled by the petitioner have been brought to the notice of the authorities and appropriate action taken.”
The Court found no reason to monitor the enquiry or issue further directions. The Bench expects the authorities, both under the State or the University, to take the matter to its logical conclusion.
The High Court closed the petition finding it to be unnecessary, but observed that the closure of the petition shall not be taken as a finding against the allegations raised in the petition on merits, as the Bench specifically intends that the inquiry initiated shall be taken to its logical conclusion.