Authority: High Court of Odisha, Cuttack
Order Date: 04-08-2026
Case Overview
- Petitioners: Ava Patnaik and another junior assistant employed at Berhampur University, represented by counsel Mr. A. Patnaik.
- Opposite Party: Berhampur University, represented through its Vice Chancellor.
- The petition seeks promotion of the junior assistants to the post of Senior Assistant with retrospective effect and corresponding pay fixation, relying on Supreme Court judgments SLP(C) No.16814 & 17175 of 2021 and earlier High Court decisions W.P.(C) No.29460, 30837 of 2011 and W.A. No.416, 418 of 2020.
- Petitioners indicated that their representation (Annexure‑10 series) is pending before the university authority.
Observations & Directions
- The Court disposed of the writ petition at the admission stage, expressly refraining from expressing any opinion on the merits.
- The Registrar of Berhampur University is directed to consider the petitioners’ grievance in accordance with the cited judgments and the representations filed in Annexure‑2 series.
- The consideration must be completed within six weeks from the date the Registrar receives a certified copy of this order together with a copy of the writ petition.
- An urgent certified copy of the order shall be issued on proper application.
Final Outcome
- The writ petition is dismissed at the admission stage; the substantive issue of promotion is left to the university authority for consideration within the stipulated six‑week period.
Topics: Promotion Grievance, Higher Education Employment, Judicial Direction