IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARANCHAL AT NAINITAL WRIT PETITION NO. 257 (SS) 2006 Saurabh Deep Singh, S/o Sri S.P. Singh R/o 20, Jain Ki Bagiya, Near Jain Dharamkanta, Tulsi Nagar, Opposite M.J.P. Rohilkhand University, Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh). …………….Petitioner. Versus 1. State of Uttaranchal, through its Secretary Higher Education at Dehradun. 2. Uttaranchal Public Service Commission Aayog Bhawan, Gurukul Kangri, Kankhal, Haridwar, through its Secretary. 3. University Grants Commission, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002, through its Secretary. …………………Respondents. Sri Lalit Belwal, Advocate for the petitioner. Learned Standing Counsel for the respondent no. 1. Sri B.D. Kandpal, Advocate for the respondent no.2. Dated : 02.03.2006 Hon’ble Rajesh Tandon, J. By the present writ petition, the petitioner has prayed for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to treat the degree of M.Sc (Plant Science) equivalent to the degree of M.Sc (Botany) for all purpose and permit the petitioner to appear in the interview in pursuance of advertisement contained in Annexure-2 to the writ petition and further direct the respondent no. 1 to issue such direction in this regard which are necessary in the interest of justice for doing complete justice. 2 2. Brief facts giving rise to the present writ petition are that in the year 1985 Department of Life Science was opened in Rohilkhand University (now known as M.J.P. Rohilkhand University) for M.Sc. degree in Plant Science (earlier to directions of UGC known as Botany), Animal Science (earlier to directions of UGC known as Zoology), etc and the University started giving degree to that effect. 3. According to the petitioner, in the year, 1995-96, he has completed his B.Sc. in Zoology, Botany and Chemistry and in the year 1997-98 took admission in M.Sc. (Plant Science) in the University and completed his M.Sc. (Plant Science) in the year 1998-99. 4. Respondent no.2 vide Advertisement No. 1 /SEWA/ 2003-2004 advertised certain vacancies for lecturers in Inter Colleges in different subject including 73 unreserved seats for JEEV VIGYAN subject and the qualification for this vacancy was M.Sc. in Botany or Zoology and the last date of submission of the application was 30.10.2003. 5. The petitioner has submitted he is fully qualified for the said post and he has applied and he was declared successful for interview after the screening test, which was in the form of objective questions from the subject and the general studies and the petitioner received on letter dated November, 2004 informing that he has succeeded in the screening test by means of that letter, it was also informed that the last date of filling of the form is 0903.2005 which was thereafter extended upto 16.03.2005. 6. The interview for the advertised vacancies had to start from 27.02.2006 till 10.03.2006 at Haridwar and the respondent no. 2 got these dates published in the newspapers. 7. On 16.02.2006, the petitioner received a letter informing him that he is not being called for interview because he does not 3 possesses requisite minimum qualification as his M.Sc. degree is not of Zoology or Botony. 8. On 18.02.2006, the petitioner met the authorities of the Service Section of the respondent no. 2 and served a representation along with the certificate-dated 17.02.2006 and the petitioner was assured that the representation along with the papers will be kept before the Examination Committee and he will be informed about the same before 27.02.2006. 9. The petitioner has submitted that the syllabus of M.Sc. (Botany) of M.B. Govt. P.G. College, Haldwani, District Nainital of Kumaun University (Uttaranchal), which he has compared with M.Sc. (Pant Science), is almost similar except that some papers are adjusted here. 10. In view of the above, the matter is referred to the respondent no. 3 to decide whether the subject is similar as alleged in the writ petition. Petitioner shall file a representation within a period of ten days and the same shall be disposed of within one month thereafter from the date of presentation of the certified copy of the order. 11. However, the petitioner shall be permitted to participate in the interview which has already started from 27.02.2006 subject to the decision of the University Grants Commission. 12. Writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No order as to costs. 13. Copy of the order to be given today. (Rajesh Tandon, J.) 02.03.2006 Rathour