The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the ongoing recruitment process for 20 assistant professor posts at Mirza Ghalib College, Gaya, a government-funded minority institution. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued the order while hearing a plea filed by a group of candidates who had been appointed to the same positions in 2021 but later lost them after the Patna High Court quashed those appointments.
Background of the Case
According to Supreme Court advocate Mojahid Karim Khan, who represented the petitioners, the college's governing body re-advertised the posts on February 26, 2026, after the earlier appointments were nullified by the high court. The petitioners challenged this fresh recruitment process, arguing that it was initiated despite their pending legal remedies. The court also made an oral observation warning the college of a potential penalty of Rs 1 crore for its actions.
Earlier High Court Ruling
The Patna High Court had previously ruled the 2021 appointments illegal, citing a blatant violation of Section 57 of the amended Bihar State Universities Act, 1976. This provision mandates that appointments must be made through a properly constituted selection committee comprising the college principal, the head of the concerned department, three outside experts selected from a university-approved panel, and a representative of the governing body as chairman.
Justice Anjani Kumar Sharan, while quashing the appointments, observed that the recruitment process had been conducted in a "whimsical and arbitrary manner," thereby depriving students of quality education. The order was later upheld by a division bench comprising then Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Harish Kumar.
Current Status and Implications
Following the high court's directive, the college management initiated a fresh recruitment process. However, with the Supreme Court now stepping in, the matter has once again been thrown into legal uncertainty. The apex court's stay order effectively halts all further proceedings related to the recruitment until the next hearing. The case highlights ongoing issues with adherence to statutory provisions in faculty appointments at government-funded minority colleges in Bihar.
