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Judgment
HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J. (Oral)
The present writ petition has been filed under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of an appropriate writ or order in the nature of certiorari for quashing the impugned order dated 18.06.2026 (Annexure P-4) issued by Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana vide which many Associate Professors have been promoted on the post of Principal to the extent the name of petitioner does not find mention therein inspite of fact that 93 posts of Principal are lying vacant. Further praying for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondents to promote petitioner on the post of Principal w.e.f. 18.06.2026 along with all consequential benefits and thereafter, pension of petitioner be fixed accordingly and to direct the respondents to consider the petitioner for promotion prior to date of his retirement i.e. 31.08.2026.
Learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner, inter alia, contends that the petitioner is serving as an Associate Professor in the Higher Education Department, Haryana, and is placed at Sr. No.1250 in the seniority list, thereby being effectively placed at Sr. No.4 amongst the eligible serving candidates. It is further contended that 93 posts of Principal are lying vacant in the Department. However, vide the impugned order dated 18.06.2026 (Annexure P-4), several Associate Professors have been promoted to the post of Principal, whereas the petitioner has been arbitrarily excluded despite being eligible for promotion and availability of vacant posts. Learned Senior Counsel further submits that the petitioner is due to retire from service on 31.08.2026. In this regard, the petitioner submitted representations dated 04.07.2026 (Annexures P-5 and P-6), which, however, have not been considered so far.
At this stage, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he would be satisfied if the present writ petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.1/competent authority to consider and decide the representations dated 04.07.2026 (Annexures P-5 and P-6), by passing a reasoned and speaking order, strictly in accordance with law, within a time-bound period.
On advance notice, learned State counsel accepts notice on behalf of the respondents and submits that he has no objection to issuance of an appropriate direction to respondent No.1/competent authority to consider and decide the representations dated 04.07.2026 (Annexures P-5 and P-6), by passing a reasoned and speaking order, strictly in accordance with law, within the stipulated period.
In view of the limited prayer made by learned counsel for the petitioner and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the claim, the present writ petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.1/competent authority to consider and decide the representations dated 04.07.2026 (Annexures P-5 and P-6), by passing a reasoned and speaking order, strictly in accordance with law, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. The decision so taken shall be communicated to the petitioner forthwith.
It is needless to observe that, in the event the petitioner is found entitled to the relief claimed, the same shall be extended to her expeditiously, strictly in accordance with law.
Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.