Judgment Case ID: 6087

Judgment:
ivil Appeal No. 2948 of 1984 275 From the Judgment and Order dated 20.1.1984 of the Delhi High Court in L.P.A. No. 145 of 1982. G. Ramaswami	 Additional Solicitor General	 S.C. Dhanda	 C.S. Vaidyanathan	 P. Chowdhary and S.R. Sethia for the Appellant. Respondent No. 1 In person	 Girish Chandra	 Ms. Sushma Relan and P. Chowdhary for Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by PATHAK	 CJ. This is an appeal by special leave against a judgment of a Division Bench of the High Court of Delhi in a Letters Patent Appeal upholding the judgment of a Single Judge of the High Court in a writ petition filed by the first respondent for a declaration that he continues to be in the service of the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The sets forth as the objects of the Jawaharlal Nehru University "to dissemi nate and advance knowledge	 wisdom and understanding by teaching and research and by the example and influence of corporate life	 and in particular the objects set out in the first Schedule. " The powers of the University extend to establishing within the Union Territory of Delhi or outside that territory such Special Centres as may be necessary for the furtherance of its objects	 to create such teaching	 administrative and other posts as the University may deem necessary	 and to make arrangements thereto	 and to appoint or recognise persons as Professors	 Readers or Lecturers or otherwise as teachers of the University. Section 7(b) of the Act declares that where the University establishes and maintains any institution or body outside the Union Territo ry of Delhi then the powers and jurisdiction of the Univer sity will extend to such institution or body subject to the rules and regulations of the University within whose juris diction the institution or body is situate. On 21 September	 1970 the Additional Secretary	 Ministry of Education and Youth Services wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the University informing him of the intention of the Government of India	 to establish a Central University at Shillong to serve the needs of the North Eastern Region of India	 and that in August	 1969	 the University Grants Commission had approved the proposal of the Manipur Adminis tration to have a Post graduate Centre at Imphal under the auspices of the Gauhati University	 and considering the fact that the 276 proposed Central University for the Hill Areas was also intended to cater to the needs of Manipur	 it would be appropriate	 he said	 that the Jawaharlal Nehru University should establish a Centre at Imphal also which could later be made over to the proposed new University to be estab lished by the Centre. On 3 October	 1970	 a resolution was passed by the Executive Council of the Jawaharlal Nehru University agreeing with the proposal of the Ministry of Education to set up an Institute of Post graduate Studies at Imphal. A committee was set up to study the problems con nected with the setting up of such an Institute and to submit concrete proposals in that regard. On 12 June	 197 1	 the Executive Council of the University recorded their agreement in principle to the proposal of the Ministry of Education to set up an Institute of Post graduate Studies at Imphal and noted that the committee had submitted its re port. Then on 12 June	 197 1	 the Executive Council passed a resolution that a Centre of Post graduate Studies be set up at Imphal under section 5(2) of the . On 27 January	 197 1	 the appellant University informed the respondent that he had been selected for the post of Research Assistant in the Department of South Eastern Stud ies	 School of International Studies of the University	 that the appointment would be temporary for a period of six months and his services could be terminated on one month 's notice on either side. On 25 April	 1973	 the term of tempo rary appointment as Research Assistant in the School of International Studies was extended by the appellant Univer sity for a further period of six months with effect from 4 June	 1973. Thereafter	 by letter dated 29 November	 1973 the Vice Chancellor of the appellant University offered the respondent the post of Associate Fellow in the Post graduate Studies Centre of the University at Imphal for a period of one year in the first instance	 the appointment being made on ad hoc basis	 and his regular appointment at the Centre of the Post graduate Studies at Imphal or at the New Delhi campus of the University would be subject to the recommenda tions of the Selection Committee. It was stated that he was expected to take part in the teaching and research pro grammes of the University. He was directed	 in case he accepted the offer	 to join the Post graduate Centre	 Imphal (Manipur) as early as possible. On the same date the re spondent accepted the offer of appointment as "Associate Fellow"	 Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal	 under the terms and conditions of the Vice Chancellor 's letter of that date. On 3 December. 1973 the respondent reiterated his acceptance of the offer of appointment as "Associate Fellow" at the Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal	 and stated that he was reporting for duty to the Head of the Centre for Political Studies	 School 277 of Social Sciences	 New Delhi with effect from 3 December	 1973 so that after necessary briefing at the Centre he would proceed to Imphal as early as possible. Thereafter by Office Order No. 2376 dated 24 August	 1974 the term of appointment of the respondent as "Associate Fellow" at the Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal	 was extended for a period of one year from 3 December	 1974 to 2 December	 1975. By Office Order No. 2440 dated 23 September	 1974 the respond ent 's term of appointment in the same capacity at the said Centre was now enlarged from 3 December	 1974 to 2 December	 1976. His existing scale of Rs.400 40 800 50 950 was revised to Rs.700 40 1100 50 1600 by Office Order No. 295 dated 21 June	 1975 with effect from 1 January	 1973. It appears that the temporary appointment of Associate Professor in Politi cal Science at the Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal	 was extended upto 3 August	 1987 or until the post was filled on a regular basis whichever is earlier. Thereafter on 23 December	 1977 an advertisement was issued by the Jawaharlal Nehru University	 Centre of Post graduate Stud ies	 Imphal (Manipur) for appointment to	 inter alia	 the posts of Associate Professor/Fellow and Assistant Professor/Assistant Fellow in the Political Science. The respondent applied for the post of Associate Professor but the Selection Committee did not find him suitable for that post and recommended him for the lower post of Assistant Professor. By letter dated 29 April	 1978 the Jawaharlal Nehru University offered him the appointment of Assistant Professor in Political Science on an ad hoc basis in the Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal	 for a period of one year or until his services were required by the Centre	 whichever was earlier. The respondent	 however	 wrote back on 2 May	 1978 stating that he had not applied for the post of Assistant Professor in Political Science and that he deserved to be appointed as Associate Professor at the Imphal Centre. By letter dated 21 March	 1979 the Jawaharlal Nehru University offered the respondent the post of Assist ant Professor in the Political Science Division at the Centre of Post graduate Studies of the University at Imphal for a period of two years. He was informed that in all matters relating to leave and other conditions of service he would be required to enter into an agreement with the Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal. This agreement was never executed. On 29 August	 1979 the respondent joined as As sistant Professor in accordance with the terms mentioned in the University 's letter dated 21 March	 1979. Thereafter the respondent was appointed as Assistant Professor by a Resolu tion of the Jawaharlal Nehru University dated 29 October	 1979 on a regular basis with effect from the date of his initial appointment dated 29 August	 1979 and he was con firmed with effect from that date. 278 In 1980 proceedings were taken to transfer the Imphal Centre from the Jawaharlal Nehru University to the Manipur University. To effectuate this the Syndicate of the Manipur University passed a Resolution on 19 December	 1980 detail ing the terms for the transfer of the Centre to the Manipur University	 and the Manipur University and the Manipur Government requested the Jawaharlal Nehru University for transferring the Centre accordingly. The Jawaharlal Nehru University by its Resolution dated 3 February	 1981 accepted the proposal and authorised the Vice Chancellor to transfer the Centre to the Manipur University. The date for transfer was fixed as 1 April	 1981. Meanwhile	 the Manipur Legisla ture passed the Manipur University Act	 1980	 which was assented to by the Governor on 28 May	 1980. Section 1(4) of the Act provided that on and from the date on which the Act came into force in respect of post graduate education and research	 the Jawaharlal Nehru University would cease to exercise jurisdiction over the Centre of Post graduate Studies in Imphal	 and that the State Government of Manipur may make provision for the transfer of employees from the Jawaharlal Nehru University	 Centre of Post graduate Stud ies	 Imphal to the Manipur University. Thereafter an order dated 31 March	 1981 was made by the Governor of Manipur providing that the members of the faculties of the Jawahar lal Nehru University	 Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal	 immediately before its merger into the Manipur University would	 on and from the 1 April	 1981	 become members of the staff of the Manipur University on the same terms and conditions of service as they were entitled to immediately before that day. Meanwhile on 3 February	 1981	 the Syndicate of the Jawaharlal Nehru University provided for the transfer of the Centre to the Manipur University. It was resolved that the said Jawaharlal Nehru University for Post graduate Studies would cease to exist as such and the Divisions of the Centre would become the Divisions of the Manipur University and function accordingly. It was further resolved that the members of the faculty employed by the Jawaharlal Nehru University	 Centre of Postgraduate Studies	 Imphal	 immediately before its merger into the University would on and from that date. become members of the staff of the Manipur University. The respondent filed a writ petition in this Court on 27 March	 1981 challenging his transfer from the Jawaharlal Nehru University to the Manipur University	 and that peti tion was dismissed as withdrawn on 21 September	 198 1. Thereafter the respondent filed a writ petition on 22 May	 1982 in the Delhi High Court praying for the quashing of the Resolution of the Jawaharlal Nehru University on 3 February	 198 1 transferring his services to the Manipur University. The learned 279 Single Judge of the High Court held that the respondent could not be obliged to join the Manipur University	 that he was confirmed as Assistant Professor in the employment of the Jawaharlal Nehru University in its Imphal Centre and was entitled to continue in service until he attained the age of 60 years and that the services had not been specifically terminated. Accordingly	 the writ petition was allowed and the respondent was deemed to continue	 in the service of the Jawaharlal Nehru University and if no equivalent post was available for him in 1981 in the Jawaharlal Nehru University had he had become surplus	 the said University was at liber ty to dispense with his services. In appeal	 the Division Bench of the High Court upheld the view that the services of the respondent could not stand automatically transferred from the Jawaharlal Nehru University to the Manipur Univer sity with effect from 1 April	 1981 by operation of law and that the order dated 31 March	 1981 transferring the employ ees at the Imphal Centre to the Manipur must be considered as implying or assuming that the concerned employee had exercised an option to join the Manipur University. The learned Judges also rejected the contention of the appellant that there was an automatic termination of the respondent 's service without notice or order or discharge or dismissal. They held further that the Centre at Imphal was commenced and conducted as part and parcel of the Jawaharlal Nehru University that the respondent must be regarded as an em ployee continuing with the Jawaharlal Nehru University even upon the transfer of the Centre from that University. They further observed that if	 in the result	 the strength of the staff should be surplus	 the principle of "last come first go" had to be applied	 and that the application of the principle was to be effected with reference to the cadre to which the respondent belonged and also to the discipline in which he was competent. In the event of it being found that he constitutes a class by himself	 his services could be absorbed in some suitable post in the Jawaharlal Nehru University. In this appeal the main contention of the appellant is that the respondent was appointed at the Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal	 and when the Centre was trans ferred to the Manipur University	 his services were automat ically transferred to that University	 and consequently he could not claim to be an employee of the appellant Universi ty. The argument proceeds on the assumption that the Centre of Post graduate Studies at Imphal was an independent entity which existed by itself and was not a department of the appellant University. The submission proceeds on a fallacy. The Centre of Postgraduate Studies was set up at Imphal as an activity of the appellant University. To give expression to that activity the appellant University set up and orga nised the Centre at Imphal and appointed a teaching 280 and administrative staff to man it. Since the Centre repre sented an activity of the appellant University the teaching and administrative staff must be understood as employees of the appellant University. In the case of the respondent	 there can be no doubt whatever that he was	 and continues to be	 an employee of the appellant University. There is also no doubt that his employment could not be transferred by the appellant University to the Manipur University without his consent	 notwithstanding any statutory provision to that effect whether in the Manipur University Act or elsewhere. The contract of service entered into by the respondent was a contract with the appellant University and no law can con vert that contract into a contract between the respondent and the Manipur University without simultaneously making it	 either expressly or by necessary implication	 subject to the respondent 's consent. When the Manipur University Act pro vides for the transfer of the services of the staff working at the Centre of Postgraduate Studies	 Imphal	 to employment in the Manipur University	 it must be construed as a provi sion enabling such transfer of employment but only on the assumption that the employee concerned is a consenting party to such transfer. It makes no difference that the respondent was not shown in the list of Assistant Professors of the appellant University or that the provision was not indicated in its budget; that must be regarded as proceeding from an erroneous conception of the status of the respondent. The position in law in clear	 that no employee can be trans ferred	 without his consent	 from one employer to another. The consent may be express or implied. We do not find it necessary to refer to any case law in support of this con clusion. Inasmuch as the transfer of the Centre of Post graduate Studies from the appellant University to the Manipur univer sity could not result in a transfer of the employment of the respondent from the one to the other	 it must be concluded that the respondent continues in the employment of the appellant University. The transfer of the Centre of Post graduate Studies to the Manipur University may be regarded as resulting in the abolition of post held by the respondent in the appellant University. In that event	 if the post held by the respondent is regarded as one of a number of posts in a group	 the principle "last come	 first go" will apply	 and someone junior to the respondent must go. If the post held by him constitutes a class by itself	 it is possible to say that he is surplus to the requirements of the appellant University and is liable to be retrenched. But it appears that the respondent has been adjusted against a suitable post in the appellant University and has been working there without break during the pendency of this 281 litigation	 and we cannot	 therefore	 permit the appellant University to retrench him. In the result	 the appeal fails and is dismissed with costs. R.S.S. Appeal dis missed.

Summary:
The appellant	 Jawaharlal Nehru University	 had set up a Centre of Post Graduate Studies at Imphal under section 5(2) of the University Act. The Respondent while he was working as a temporary research Assistant in the School of International Studies of the University was offered the post of Associate Fellow at the Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal	 on ad hoc basis which offer was accepted by him on 3 December	 1973. His term of appointment was extended from time to time. On 21st March	 1979 the University offered him the post of Assistant Professor in the Political Science Divi sion at the Centre at Imphal for a period of two years. The respondent joined the post on 29 August	 1979. Later	 he was appointed as such on a regular basis from the date of his initial appointment	 and was confirmed with effect from the same date. The Centre of Post graduate Studies at Imphal was to be merged with the Manipur University as provided in the Mani pur University Act	 1980. On 3 February	 1981 the Syndicate of the Jawaharlal Nehru University provided for the transfer of the Centre to the Manipur University and resolved that the members of the faculty employed by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Centre of Post graduate Studies	 Imphal	 immedi ately 'before its merger into the Manipur University would on and from that date become members of the staff of the Manipur University. The respondent filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court praying for the quashing of the Resolution of the Jawaharlal Nehru University whereby his services were trans ferred to the Manipur University. The learned Single Judge allowed the writ petition holding that the respondent could not be obliged to join the Manipur University	 and that he was confirmed as Assistant Professor in the employment of the 274 Jawaharlal Nehru University in its Imphal Centre and was entitled to continue in service until he attained the age of 60 years. In appeal	 the Division Bench upheld the view that the services of the respondent could not stand automatically transferred with the transfer of the Centre at Imphal	 from the Jawaharlal Nehru University to the Manipur University. Dismissing the appeal	 this Court	 HELD: (1) The Centre of Post graduate Studies was set up at Imphal as an activity of the appellant Jawaharlal Nehru University. To give expression to that activity	 the Univer sity set up and organised the Centre at Imphal and appointed teaching and administrative staff to man it. Since the Centre represented an activity of the University the teach ing and administrative staff must be understood as employees of the University. [279H; 280A] (2) The contract of service entered into by the respond ent was a contract with the appellant University and no law can convert that contract into a contract between the re spondent and the Manipur University without automatically making it	 either expressly or by necessary implication	 subject to the respondent 's consent	 notwithstanding any statutory provision to that effect whether in the Manipur University Act or otherwise. The position of law is clear that no employee can be transferred	 without his consent	 from one employer to another. The consent may be express or implied. [280B C	 E] (3) The transfer of the Centre of Post graduate Studies to the Manipur University may be regarded as resulting in the abolition of the post held by the respondent in the appellant University. In that event	 if the post held by the respondent is regarded as one of a number of posts in a group	 the principle "last come	 first go" will apply	 and someone junior to the respondent must go. If the post held by him constitutes a class by itself	 it is possible to say that he is surplus to the requirements of the appellant University and is liable to be retrenched. Since. however	 the respondent has been adjusted against a suitable post in the appellant University during the pendency of the litiga tion	 the appellant cannot be permitted to retrench him. [280F H; 281A]