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Punjab Government Seeks Modification of Supreme Court Order Canceling 1,158 Assistant Professor and Librarian Appointments

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Punjab's education minister Harjot Singh Bains announced that the state government has moved the Supreme Court to modify its July 14 order, which quashed the appointments of 1,158 assistant professors and librarians in government degree colleges. The minister stated that the government is seeking a temporary reprieve for these individuals to continue their work, citing concerns about the impact on students. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that the selection process was marred by "total arbitrariness" and violated University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Punjab government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court to modify the July 14 order that canceled the appointments of 1,158 assistant professors and librarians.
  • The government is seeking to allow these individuals to continue their work for the time being, citing the potential disruption to education services.
  • The Supreme Court had ruled that the selection process was flawed, setting aside the Punjab and Haryana high court's September 2024 decision to uphold the appointments.
  • The recruitment process was initiated in October 2021, with 1,158 appointments made in violation of UGC norms.
  • Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice K Vinod Chandran presided over the Supreme Court bench that delivered the July 14 order.
  • The University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations of 2018 stipulate the framework for faculty recruitment in Indian universities.
  • The Punjab government is exploring all possible legal remedies to address the situation.

Statistics:

  • 1,158 assistant professors and librarians had their appointments canceled by the Supreme Court on July 14.
  • The recruitment process for these positions was initiated in October 2021.
  • The Punjab and Haryana high court had initially upheld the appointments in its September 2024 decision.
  • October 2021 is when the public notice inviting online applications for the vacant positions was issued.
  • July 14, 2025, is the date of the Supreme Court order canceling the appointments.

Sources:

  • Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains's X post, citing the Supreme Court order from July 14, 2025.

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