1

REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL No. 1882 of 2023

The State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. ....Appellant(s)

Versus

Rachna Hills & Ors. ....Respondent(s)

WITH

CIVIL APPEAL No. 1883 of 2023

The State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. ....Appellant(s)

Versus

Rachna Hills & Ors. ....Respondent(s)

WITH

CIVIL APPEAL No. 1884 of 2023

The State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. ....Appellant(s)

Versus

Anjali & Anr. ...Respondent(s)

J U D G M E N T

PAMIDIGHANTAM SRI NARASIMHA, J.

1. Schools and intermediate educational institutions in the

State of Uttar Pradesh are governed by the Uttar Pradesh

Digitally signed by

CHETAN KUMAR

Date: 2023.04.27

15:24:40 IST

Reason:

Signature Not Verified 2023 INSC 441

2

Intermediate Education Act, 1921

1, Rules and Regulations made

thereunder. The procedure for the selection and appointment of

Heads of Institutions and Teachers in minority institutions is

provided in Section 16-FF of the Act and Regulation 17 of the

Regulations

2. While the detailed procedure for selection is laid

down in Regulation 17, sub-section (3) of Section 16-FF of the Act

mandates that no person selected as a Teacher shall be appointed

unless the proposal for appointment is approved by the District

Inspector of Schools

3.

2. In the present case, two minority institutions initiated the

process of selection of Teachers and forwarded their proposals to

the DIOS for approval. Before the requisite approval was granted,

the Government amended Regulation 17, prescribing a new

procedure for selection. Consequently, the DIOS returned the

proposal for compliance with the new procedure. The institutions

challenged the DIOS’ decision requiring the Management to follow

the new Rules by filing writ petitions under Article 226 of the

Constitution.

1

hereinafter ‘the Act’.

2

Regulations under the Intermediate Education Act 1921, Chapter II, Regulation 17;

hereinafter ‘Regulation 17’.

3

U.P. Intermediate Education Act 1921, section 16-FF(3) read with section 2(bb); hereinafter

‘DIOS’.

3

3. By the orders impugned before us, the High Court held that,

once the Management forwards the names for approval of the

DIOS, the selection process concludes and the proposed

candidates acquire a vested right to be appointed. The High Court

also referred to and relied on a principle that vacancies that arise

prior to the amendment of Rules have to be governed by the Rules

that existed at the time such vacancies arose. The State of U.P. is

in appeal before us. Supporting the decisions of the High Court,

the Respondents also argued before us that the Regulations

contemplate a ‘deemed appointment’ if the DIOS does not confirm

the appointment within 15 days of receiving the proposal. We have

answered all the three questions.

4. Allowing State’s appeals, we have held that the selection

process concludes only after the mandatory approval of the DIOS

is granted. Having examined the statutory regime along with the

subordinate legislation, we found that there is no place for a

deemed appointment. We have also clarified that the principle

relied on by the High Court for applying old rules for past vacancies

is neither applicable to the facts of the present cases nor good law

in view of recent decisions of this Court.

4

5. We will now refer to the necessary facts before recording

submissions of the parties, followed by reasons and our decision.

6. Facts in Civil Appeal Nos. 1882 and 1883 of 2023: Rakha

Balika Inter College, Fatehgarh, Farrukabad, U.P., hereinafter

referred to as the Respondent College, is a recognized aided

minority institution, imparting education up to the level of

intermediate. On 04.10.2017, the College issued an advertisement

inviting applications for the selection and appointment to three

posts of Assistant Teachers. The Selection Committee constituted

by the College processed the applications and, by its proceedings

dated 17.01.2018, shortlisted and recommended the names of

Respondents nos. 1 to 3 to the College Management.

7. The Management accepted the recommendation and by its

letter dated 10.02.2018 sought the approval of the DIOS,

Farrukabad, for the appointment of Respondent nos. 1 to 3 as

Assistant Teachers. The DIOS, by his letter dated 08.03.2018,

informed the Management that the proposal for approval is

incomplete and therefore suggested that necessary information

with supporting documents may be furnished for the grant of

approval.

5

8. Before the Respondent College could send the necessary

information, the Regulations prescribing the process of

appointment were amended. The amended provisions came into

force w.e.f. 12.03.2018. Consequently, the DIOS, by its letter dated

14.03.2018, returned the applications to the Respondent College

with a request to process the proposal as per the amended

Regulations.

9. The Respondent-candidates challenged the above-referred

decision of the DIOS by filing writ petition before the High Court of

Judicature at Allahabad

4. The learned Single Judge, by an order

dated 07.05.2018, set aside the decision and directed the DIOS to

reconsider the decision, on the ground that the amended

Regulations would not apply as the selection process had attained

finality.

10. Following the directions of the Single Judge, the DIOS

reconsidered the matter and passed an order on 11.10.2018,

stating that the selection process did not culminate in the grant of

approval under Section 16-FF of the Act and as such the selection

is not final. The DIOS observed that before the appointment of

4

Writ Appeal No. 11283 of 2018.

6

Respondents could be approved, the Regulations stood amended,

necessitating compliance with the new procedure for selection.

This decision of the DIOS was again challenged by the Respondent-

candidates in a writ petition

5. The learned Single Judge held that

the order of the DIOS dated 11.10.2018 was in contravention of

the earlier direction of the Court dated 07.05.2018 and therefore

directed the personal presence of the DIOS, Farrukabad. On a

subsequent day, i.e., on 16.01.2019, the Single Judge directed the

DIOS to comply with the original direction of the Court dated

07.05.2018.

11. The State of Uttar Pradesh filed a writ appeal against the

original order of the Single Judge dated 07.05.2018

6. By the order

impugned herein, the Division Bench of the High Court dismissed

the writ appeal on the ground of delay as well as on the merits of

the dispute. On merits, the Division Bench held that the selection

process with respect to vacancies which arose prior to the

amendment of the Regulation s would be governed by the

unamended Regulations. Accordingly, it noted that the

amendment of Regulation 17 would have no bearing on the request

5

Writ Appeal No. 27341 of 2018.

6

Special Appeal Defective No. 42 of 2019.

7

for approval by the DIOS. It is against this order dated 16.01.2019

that the State of Uttar Pradesh filed the first Civil Appeal No. 1882

of 2023. The connected Civil Appeal No. 1883 of 2023 arises out of

the subsequent order of the Single Judge dated 16.01.2019,

directing the DIOS to comply with the original directions under

order dated 07.05.2018

7.

12. Facts in Civil Appeal No. 1884 of 2023: M/s Farrukabad City

Girls Inter College is a recognized aided minority institution. This

College issued an advertisement on 04.12.2017 inviting

applications for selection to the post of Assistant Teacher. In a

similar turn of events, before the DIOS could consider granting

approval, the amended Regulations came into force on 12.03.2018.

Consequently, the DIOS, by an order dated 19.03.2018, directed

the College to resend the proposal for approval after conducting

the selection process in terms of the amended Regulations. The

recommended candidates filed a writ petition

8, which was allowed

by the Learned Single Judge of the High Court on 01.11.2018.

State’s writ appeal

9 against the said order was dismissed by the

Division Bench on 18.01.2019 by simply following the decision in

7

In Writ Appeal No. 27341 of 2018.

8

Writ Appeal No. 19069 of 2018.

9

Special Appeal Defective No. 38 of 2019.

8

the first case, Smt. Rachna Hills case

10. The third Civil Appeal No.

1884 of 2023 is filed by the State against this decision of the

Division Bench.

13. Submissions by the Parties: Additional Solicitor General, Shri

Vikramjit Banerjee and Shri VK Shukla, Senior Advocate assisted

by Shri Harish Pandey, AOR appeared for the State of U.P. They

have submitted that the Single Judge, as well as the Division

Bench, committed a serious error in assuming that the selection

process was complete before the amendment dated 12.03.2018

had come into force. As the approval of DIOS was not granted, no

vested right of appointment was created in favour of the

Respondents. Consequently, they submitted that the selection

process would have to be governed by the new amended

Regulations. They have also contended that as the legality of

amended Regulations dated 12.03.2018 was not challenged by the

Respondents, the orders of the DIOS dated 14.03.2018 ,

11.10.2018 and 19.03.2018 are in full compliance with the statute

as well as the Regulations.

10

Special Appeal Defective No. 42 of 2019.

9

14. On the other hand, Shri Shankey Ag rawal, Shri Vikash

Singh, Ms. Jaikriti S Jadeja, Shri Shreyans Raniwala, learned

Advocates, appearing on behalf of the Respondents in Civil Appeal

Nos. 1882 and 1883 of 2023 and Shri Gaurav Agarwal, Ms. Shristi

Gupta, and Shri Abhishek Sharma, learned Advocates appearing

on behalf of the Respondents in Civil Appeal No. 1884 of 2023,

supported the decisions of the High Court. They contended that

the selection process should be deemed to have been completed

the moment the Committee of Management proposed the names

for approval to the DIOS. They further submitted that under sub-

section (4) of Section 16-FF of the Act, the DIOS does not have the

authority to withhold the approval except in cases where the

selected candidates do not possess minimum qualifications. They

rely on Regulation 18 to contend that the authorities are duty

bound to grant approval within 15 days of the receipt of the

recommendation of the Selection Committee, failing which there

shall be a deemed appointment. They also relied on certain

decisions of this Court to contend that Rules existing as on the

date on which the vacancy arose will govern the selection process.

They would, therefore, submit that amendment of the Regulations

10

cannot adversely impact the appointment of the present

Respondents.

15. Issues: The following issues arise for consideration:

(i) Whether the selection process concluded, and the

candidates acquired a vested right to be appointed

before the amendment of the Regulations?

(ii) Whether the Act, read with the Rules and Regulations

made thereunder, contemplates ‘deemed appointment’ if

the approval of the DIOS is not given within a period of

15 days?

(iii) Whether the posts of teachers could be filled as per the

Rules and Regulations that existed when the vacancies

arose and not as per the amended Regulations?

16. Educational institutions like the Respondent Colleges are

conducted through a Committee of Management, recognised under

Section 16-A of the Act

11. The Management is empowered to

appoint Teachers as well as the Head of the Institution

12 as per the

procedure prescribed in the Act, and the Regulations made

thereunder. In the case of institutions established and

11

hereinafter ‘the Management’.

12

U.P. Intermediate Education Act 1921, section 16-E.

11

administered by minorities, the Management constitutes a five-

member Selection Committee to shortlist and recommend

candidates for appointments to the Management

13. After receiving

the recommendations of the Selection Committee, the

Management proposes the names to the DIOS for approval.

17. On 12.03.2018, the Government of Uttar Pradesh notified

amendments to Chapter II of the Regulations, including

Regulation 17, which now prescribes a written examination for the

selection of Teachers in minority institutions.

Re issue no. 1: Whether the selection process concluded, and

the candidates acquired a vested right to be appointed before

the amendment of Regulations?

18. To consider the submissions of the Respondents that the

candidates whose names are recommended by the Management

for approval by the DIOS acquire a vested right to be appointed as

Teachers, it is necessary to examine Section 16-FF:

16-FF. Savings as to minority

institutions

(1) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section

(4) of section 16-E, and section 16-F, the

Selection Committee for the appointment of a

Head of Institution or a teacher of an

institution established and administered by

a minority referred to in clause (I) of Article

30 of the Constitution shall consist of five

13

U.P. Intermediate Education Act 1921, section 16-E read with proviso to section 16-FF(1).

12

members (including its Chairman),

nominated by the Committee of

Management:

Provided that one of the members of the

Selection Committee shall —

(a) in the case of appointment of the Head of

an Institution, be an expert selected by the

Committee of Management from a panel of

experts prepared by the Director;

(b) in the case of appointment of a teacher be

the Head of the Institution concerned.

(2) The procedure to be followed by the

Selection Committee referred to in sub-

section (1) shall be such as may be

prescribed.

(3) No person selected under this section

shall be appointed, unless —

(a) in the case of the Head of an

Institution the proposal of appointment

has been approved by the Regional

Deputy Director of Education; and

(b) in the case of a teacher such

proposal has been approved by the

Inspector.

(4) The Regional Deputy Director of

Education or the Inspector, as the case may

be, shall not withhold approval for the

selection made under this section where the

person selected possesses the minimum

qualifications prescribed and is otherwise

eligible.

(5) Where the Regional Deputy Director of

Education or the Inspector, as the case may

be, does not approve of a candidate selected

under this section, the Committee of

Management may, within three weeks from

the date of receipt of such disapproval, make

13

a representation to the Director in the case of

the Head of Institution, and to the Regional

Deputy Director of Education in the case of a

teacher.

(6) Every order passed by the Director or the

Regional Deputy Director of Education on a

representation under sub-section (5) shall be

final.”

(emphasis supplied)

19. Sub-section (3) of section 16-FF of the Act provides that no

person selected and proposed to be appointed as a teacher by the

Management shall be appointed till the proposal is approved by

the DIOS. If the expressions ‘no person’, ‘shall be appointed’, and

‘unless’ employed in sub-section (3) are given their ordinary

meaning, which is the foremost of the linguistic canons of

construction of legislation, we have no hesitation in holding that

appointment is subject to the mandatory approval of DIOS. The

process of appointment cannot be said to have been concluded

without obtaining the mandatory approval of the DIOS, and as

such, there is no right, much less a vested right, of the candidate

to be appointed.

20. This Court had the occasion to examine the effect of approval

by the DIOS in Raj Kumari Cecil (Smt.) v. Managing Committee of

14

Laxmi Narain Bhagwati Devi Vidya Mandir Girls' High School

14,

while holding that the appointment of the petitioner therein was

unsustainable and incomplete, as the statutory pre-condition for

the appointment, i.e., approval from the DIOS, was not obtained,

it was observed:

“4. There is no dispute that the appellant did

not possess the qualifications for being

appointed as a Principal of the Higher

Secondary School. It is also not disputed

that the appointment is subject to approval

of the competent authority under the

Intermediate Education Act. It is correct that

the competent authority has power to relax

the qualification but then again it is not

disputed that the competent authority did

not relax the qualification for the

appointment of the appellant as Principal of

the Higher Secondary School of the

respondent….

....

13. … The appellant ceased to be

Headmistress on upgradation of school of

the respondent to the Higher Secondary

School as the post was upgraded. She did

not possess qualifications to be appointed as

Principal of the Higher Secondary School.

Her qualifications were not relaxed. The

competent authority under the Intermediate

Education Act did not grant approval for her

appointment as a Principal which is a

precondition under the law. Since the

appointment itself was not approved it was

not necessary for the Managing Committee

of the school to get consent of the authority

14

(1998) 2 SCC 461.

15

concerned for the termination of her services

as a Principal.”

(emphasis supplied)

21. In view of the clear statutory mandate under Section 16-FF(3)

of the Act, we are of the opinion that the High Court has committed

an error in coming to the conclusion that the Respondent nos. 1

to 3 have acquired a vested right to be appointed.

Re issue no. 2: Whether the Act, read with the Rules and

Regulations made thereunder, contemplates ‘deemed

appointment’ if the approval of the DIOS is not given within

a period of 15 days?

22. Respondents have relied on Regulation 18

15 to argue that if

the DIOS fails to grant his approval within 15 days of the proposal

made by the Management, the proposed candidates shall be

deemed to have been appointed. Regulation 18, is as under:

“(1) Within fifteen days of the receipt of the

recommendation of the Selection Committee

constituted under sub-section (1) or (2) of

Section 16-F, and in case of an institution

referred to in Section 16-FF, the approval of

the authority specified therein, the Manager

shall, on authorisation under resolution of the

Committee of Management, issue an order of

appointment by Registered Post to the

candidate in the form given in Appendix 'B'

requiring the candidate to join duty within ten

days of the receipt of such order, failing which

15

Regulations under the Intermediate Education Act, 1921, Chapter II, Regulation 18 ;

hereinafter ‘Regulation 18’.

16

the appointment of the candidate will be

liable to cancellation.

(2) In case of promotions and ad

hoc appointments also a formal order of

promotion or appointment in the form as near

as possible to the form referred to in Clause

(1) shall be issued to the person concerned

under the signature of the Manager.

(3) A copy of every order referred to in Clauses

(1) and (2) shall be sent to the Inspector and

in case of appointment of the head of

institution, a copy thereof shall also be sent

to the Regional Deputy Director of Education.”

23. We have noticed that appointments are to be made under

Section 16-E of the Act. Section 16-F of the Act provides for the

constitution and recommendation of Selection Committees and

Section 16-FF therein specifically relates to minority institutions.

Regulation 18(1) provides for the time within which an order of

appointment is to be issued by a Manager to the selected

candidate. According to which, where the recommendation is made

by a Selection Committee constituted under sub-section (1) or (2)

of Section 16-F of the Act, an order of appointment is to be issued

within 15 days of the receipt of the recommendation of the

Selection Committee. Whereas, in the case of an institution

referred to in Section 16-FF of the Act, i.e., a minority institution,

as in the instant case, it is to be issued within 15 days of the receipt

17

of the approval of the authority specified therein. Neither Section

16-FF of the Act nor Regulation 18 provides the period within

which approval is to be accorded. Further, neither of the two

provisions provide for deemed appointment in the event of delay in

granting approval. Therefore, unless the approval contemplated

under Section 16-FF(3) is accorded, no appointment could take

place.

24. In any case, when the relevant statutory provision, i.e.

Section 16-FF(3) itself makes approval by DIOS mandatory for

appointment to the post of teacher, a Regulation made under the

Act could not have provided for a ‘deemed appointment’.

Subordinate legislation cannot transcend the prescription of a

statutory provision.

25. Additionally, sub-section (4) of Section 16-FF of the Act has

to be read in conjunction with Section 16-FF(2) therein, which

provides that “[t]he procedure to be followed by the Selection

Committee referred to in sub-section (1) shall be such as may be

prescribed”. It is only in the cases where the selection procedure,

as prescribed in the Regulations, is followed, that there cannot be

a disapproval unless there is a lack of requisite eligibility and

18

qualifications. Thus, the question of deemed appointment does not

arise under section 16-FF(4) of the Act.

26. If the statutory provisions read with relevant Regulations

were to provide for ‘deemed appointment’, there would not have

been a further remedy against an order of disapproval by the DIOS.

Sub-section (5) of section 16-FF provides the remedy to the College

Management in the event the DIOS does not grant an approval. As

per this, the Management can within three weeks from the date of

receipt of disapproval, make a representation to the Regional

Deputy Director of Education.

27. In view of the legal provision as obtained under Section 16-

FF of the Act, read with Regulation 18, we reject the submissions

of the Respondents’ that there is a ‘deemed appointment’ of

selection under Regulation 18.

Re issue no. 3 : Whether the posts of teachers could be filled

as per the Rules and Regulations that existed when the

vacancies arose and not as per the amended Regulations?

28. The Division Bench, as well as the Single Judge of the High

Court, accepted the submission of the selected candidates that the

vacancies to the post of teachers could be filled only as per the

19

Rules and Regulations that operated when the vacancies arose and

not as per the Regulations that came to be amended thereafter.

29. We have already held that approval of DIOS is mandatory and

that the Act injuncts the appointment of a Teacher without such

approval. We have also held that the legal regime concerning the

appointment of Teachers does not contemplate any concept of

deemed appointment if the DIOS does not decide upon the

proposal within 15 days. Under these circumstances, the reference

to and reliance on the principle that Rules that existed at the time

when vacancies arose will govern the appointments is misplaced.

30. In any event, it is now a settled principle of law that a

candidate has a right to be considered in the light of existing Rules,

which implies Rules in force as on the date of consideration. This

principle is affirmed by this Court in Deepak Agarwal and Anr. v.

State of U.P. and Ors.

16, as below:

“26. It is by now a settled proposition of law

that a candidate has the right to be

considered in the light of the existing rules,

which implies the “rule in force” on the date

the consideration took place. There is no rule

of universal or absolute application that

vacancies are to be filled invariably by the

law existing on the date when the vacancy

arises. The requirement of filling up old

16

(2011) 6 SCC 725.

20

vacancies under the old rules is interlinked

with the candidate having acquired a right

to be considered for promotion. The right to

be considered for promotion accrues on the

date of consideration of the eligible

candidates. Unless, of course, the applicable

rule, as in Y.V.Rangaiah case lays down

any particular time-frame, within which the

selection process is to be completed. In the

present case, consideration for promotion

took place after the amendment came into

operation. Thus, it cannot be accepted that

any accrued or vested right of the appellants

has been taken away by the amendment.”

31. While reaffirming the above referred principle, in a

subsequent case of Rajasthan State Sports Council and Anr. v. Uma

Dadhich and Anr.

17, (in which one of us was a member Dr. D.Y.

Chandrachud, J., as he then was). This Court noted:

“5. There is merit in the submission which

has been urged on behalf of the appellants

that the respondent had no vested right to

promotion but only a right to be considered

in accordance with the rules as they existed

on the date when the case for promotion was

taken up. This principle has been reiterated

in several decisions of this Court. (See H.S.

Grewal v. Union of India, Deepak Agarwal v.

State of U.P., State of Tripura v. Nikhil

Ranjan Chakraborty and Union of India v.

Krishna Kumar.”

(emphasis supplied)

17

(2019) 4 SCC 316.

21

32. In a recent decision, in State of Himachal Pradesh and Ors. v.

Raj Kumar and Ors.

18, after reviewing a number of decisions on the

same subject, this Court formulated the following principles:

“70. A review of the fifteen cases that have

distinguished Rangaiah would demonstrate

that this Court has been consistently carving

out exceptions to the broad proposition

formulated in Rangaiah. The findings in

these judgments, that have a direct bearing

on the proposition formulated by Rangaiah

are as under:

1. There is no rule of universal

application that vacancies must be

necessarily filled on the basis of the law

which existed on the date when they

arose, Rangaiah's case must be

understood in the context of the rules

involved therein.

2. It is now a settled proposition of law

that a candidate has a right to be

considered in the light of the existed

rules, which implies the “rule in force” as

on the date consideration takes place.

The right to be considered for promotion

occurs on the date of consideration of the

eligible candidates.

3. The Government is entitled to take a

conscious policy decision not to fill up the

vacancies arising prior to the amendment

of the rules. The employee does not

acquire any vested right to being

considered for promotion in accordance

with the repealed rules in view of the

policy decision taken by the Government.

There is no obligation for the Government

to make appointments as per the old

18

2022 SCC OnLine SC 680.

22

rules in the event of restructuring of the

cadre is intended for efficient working of

the unit. The only requirement is that the

policy decisions of the Government must

be fair and reasonable and must be

justified on the touchstone of Article 14.

4. The principle in Rangaiah need not be

applied merely because posts were

created, as it is not obligatory for the

appointing authority to fill up the posts

immediately.

5. When there is no statutory duty cast

upon the State to consider appointments

to vacancies that existed prior to the

amendment, the State cannot be directed

to consider the cases.”

(emphasis supplied)

33. In view of the clear enunciation of the law, we have no

hesitation in rejecting the submission made by the learned

counsels for the Respondents, that the vacancies that existed prior

to the amendment of Regulation 17 of Chapter II, must be governed

by unamended rules.

34. For the reasons stated above, Civil Appeal No. 1882 of 2023,

Civil Appeal No. 1883 of 2023, and Civil Appeal No. 1884 of 2023

are allowed. Accordingly, the following judgments of the High

Court of Judicature at Allahabad are set aside: judgment dated

16.01.2019 in Special Appeal Defective No. 42 of 2019; judgment

23

dated 16.01.2019 in Writ Appeal No. 27341 of 2018 ; judgment

dated 18.01.2019 in Special Appeal Defective No. 38 of 2019.

35. No order as to costs.

....................................CJI.

[Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud]

........................................J.

[Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha]

New Delhi;

April 27, 2023