Patna, April 5: The high court today upheld the judgment of the single-judge bench that set aside the appointment of 26 principals in the different constitu- ent colleges of Magadh University (MU).

Upholding the verdict, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Rekha M. Doshit and Justice Jyoti said: “Since there are various manipulations and illegalities in the selection process, the entire selection of principals is bad. We do not find any infirmity in the judgment of the single bench and hence, the appeal is dismissed.”

The single bench of the high court had cancelled the selection of these principals on separate writ petitions filed by Vimal Kumar Singh and Narendra Kumar, the respondents in the case.

Amresh Kumar Singh, counsel for these teachers, alleged during the course of argument that the selection was done in “mala fide manner”, “arbitrarily” and “on extraneous consideration” in flagrant violation of the Bihar University Act and other settled norms and rules in this regard.

Not only this, even candidates who do not hold PhD degree, a requisite qualification for appointment as principal, has been appointed as principal, Singh submitted before the court. The counsel also claimed that persons whose appointment as lecturers was still being probed by the vigilance department had been appointed as principal.

Appearing for the appellants (principals), senior advocate Y.V. Giri submitted before the division bench that the wisdom of the selection committee members who are experts in their field could be put under judicial scrutiny. Moreover, the appellants have got higher marks in their respective category and hence, their selection was valid.

To maintain transparency in the selection of principals, the court had ordered that the interview of all the candidates (principals) should be recorded on video in full and marks be awarded to the candidates by the selection committee there only.

This measure would help ward off any public suspicion of nepotism and extraneous consideration weighting the selection committee.

MU has advertised for 22 posts of principals on October 25, 2008 against which 351 applications were received.

The committee had interviewed all the candidates in February, 2009 and the finally, 27 principals were appointed.