Patna High Court
Professor (Dr.) Ajit Kumar SinghversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- AJIT KUMAR
Holding
The Court ordered the university to pass the necessary order on the petitioner's representation and to pay the salary difference within eight weeks, thereby disposing of the writ petition.
Summary
Professor Dr. Ajit Kumar Singh, a retired associate professor, filed a writ petition seeking payment of retiral dues and arrears arising from his promotion from Lecturer to Reader under the university's Merit Promotion Scheme. He alleged that although the promotion was approved by Veer Kunwar Singh University, the salary difference due to him had not been paid. The State of Bihar and the university contended that the promotion had been notified and that the petitioner's claim should be adjudicated in accordance with law. The Court directed the university registrar to pass an order on the petitioner's representation and to pay the salary difference within eight weeks of receipt of the order, also directing the State to cooperate. The Court further ordered that interest on delayed payment be considered if similarly situated persons had received such benefits. Consequently, the writ petition was disposed of.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner is entitled to payment of salary arrears and retiral dues following his promotion under the Merit Promotion Scheme
- Whether the university and the State are obligated to direct payment of the salary difference within a specified period
Subjects
- Merit Promotion Scheme
- salary arrears
- retiral dues
- writ petition
- higher education
- University promotion
- interest on delayed payment
- administrative order
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.1920 of 2026
======================================================
Professor (Dr.) Ajit Kumar Singh S/o Late Anant Prasad Singh, R/o Family
Flat No. 19, P.O. and P.S. Dalmiangar, District Rohtas and a retired Associate
Professor of Mahila College, Dalmianagar (Rohtas).
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of Higher
Education, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.
2. Director (Higher Education), Govt. of Bihar, New Secretariat, Patna.
3. Veer Kunwar Singh University, Ara through the Registrar.
4. Vice-chancellor, Veer Kunwar Singh University, Ara.
5. Finance officer, Veer Kunwar Singh University, Ara.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Dr. Pramod Kumar Singh, Adv.
For the State : Mr. Sudhanshu Shekhar, Adv.
For the Resp. No. 3-5 : Mr. Rajesh Prasad Choudhary, Adv.
For the Respondent/s : Mr.Standing Counsel (24)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AJIT KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 12-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. The writ petition has been filed for the following
relief:-
“1(a) To pay the retiral dues/arrears
of the petitioner as recommended by Principal
of Mahila College, Dalmianagar, vide letter no.
198/25; dated: 24/11/25 (Annexure-P/1) along
with 12% interest on delayed period.
(b) Other relief/reliefs the petitioner
may found to be entitled at the time of hearing.”
3. Counsel for the petitioner, by referring to the
Patna High Court CWJC No.1920 of 2026(2) dt.12-02-2026
2/3
Annexure-P/9, at Page-14, submits that the promotion of the
petitioner from the post of Lecturer to the post of Reader as per
the provision of Merit Promotion Scheme has been approved by
the University, which is contained in Memo No.
279/Estab./2024 dated 15.03.2024 but, for the reasons
unexplained, the amount for which the petitioner is entitled has
not been paid.
4. For getting his claim adjudicated, appropriate
representation has already been filed by the petitioner before the
Registrar Veer Kunwar Singh University, Ara, which is
appended with the writ petition as Annexure-P/4.
5. On the other hand, counsel for the State as also the
University submits that once the representation has been filed
and the promotion from Lecturer to the post of Reader has
already been notified under Merit Promotion Scheme then
appropriate directions may be issued to adjudicate his claim in
accordance with law.
6. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, the
Registrar, of the Veer Kunwar Singh University is directed to
pass necessary order on the representation of the petitioner,
which is appended to the writ petition as Annexure-P/4 and the
entitlement of salary, for which the petitioner is entitled in view
Patna High Court CWJC No.1920 of 2026(2) dt.12-02-2026
3/3
of the notification issued by the Veer Kunwar Singh University
dated 15.03.2024, the difference of salary shall paid to this
petitioner within a period of eight weeks from the date of
receipt/production of a copy of this order. The issues of interest
shall also be adjudicated if other similarly situated persons have
been allowed such benefits.
7. The State is also directed to cooperate in the
adjudication so that the effect of the order of promotion and its
consequential benefit can be brought to logical end.
8. With the aforesaid observation and direction, the
writ petition stands disposed of.
(Ajit Kumar, J)
rishi/-
U
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