Madhya Pradesh High Court
Dr. Keshav Prasad Dwivedi vs Jawahar Lal Nehru Krishi ... on 11 March, 2026
Author: Vishal Dhagat
Bench: Vishal Dhagat
1 WP-23861-2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT JABALPUR
WP No. 23861 of 2024
(DR. KESHAV PRASAD DWIVEDI AND OTHERS Vs JAWAHAR LAL NEHRU KRISHI VISHWAVIDYALAYA
JABALPUR AND OTHERS )
WP/18342/2024, WP/25262/2024, WP/26735/2024
Dated : 11-03-2026
Shri Arpan Pawar - Senior Advocate with Shri Akshat Arjaria -
Advocate, Shri Chiranjeev Sharma - Advocate and Jaideep Verma -
Advocate for petitioners.
Shri Praveen Dubey - Advocate for respondent No.1.
Shri Atul Anand Awasthy - Senior Advocate with Shri Abhilash Kumar Dey - Advocate for respondent Nos. 3 & 4.
Petitioners had filed Writ Petition under Article 226 of Constitution of India challenging order dated 07/05/2024 contained in Annexure P-9. Letter was issued by Assistant Administrative Officer with approval of Director ICAR - Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute) (hereafter referred as ('Atari') Zone-IX, Jabalpur. By said order Registrar, Jawahar Lal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur, Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur and Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg, Chhattisgarh were directed to implement Krishi Vikas Kendra Scheme (hereinafter referred to as 'KVKs') with proper strict adherence to MOU signed for KVKs. Attention of Registrars of aforesaid Universities was drawn towards following points :-
* Point 7(iii) - As per said point pay scale of KVK staff should not be more than pay scale approved by Indian Council of Agriculture Research (hereinafter referred to as "ICAR') for the scheme and Signature Not Verified Signed by: ANURAG SONI Signing time: 01-04-2026 12:16:04
2 WP-23861-2024 qualification of staff should be commensurate with requirement of job and pay attached to the post. Incentive or ad-hoc increase in pay over and above scales of approval by Council shall be borne by KVKs from their own resources. Financial liability of ICAR is restricted as applicable to ICAR KVKs. Extra payment is to be borne by State Agricultural University / host institution. Further retirement age of ICAR for Scientific Personal is 62 years for ICAC KVKs (as KVK head) and 60 years for Technical personnel (subject matter specialist / other staff) for ICAR KVKs. Liability of ICAR is limited for the period up to age of retirement existing in ICAR KVKs.
* Point 7(v) - MOU points out that Scientist, Technical and other official staff of KVK is not to be diverted for any other work and if same is done, then salary of such employee will not be paid ICAR and burden is to be borne by host institution. * Point 8(viii) - Expenditure incurred for grant will be audited by Accountant General of Central Revenue or Accountant General of State or by local fund accounts or internal auditor of ICAR. * Point 8 (xv) - ICAR will not bear expenditure of pension contribution or leave salary contribution or any other retirement benefit incurred or committed by grantee (SAU) in lieu of CPF / GPF. Addition sum stand on said benefit is to be borne by host institution.
* Point 8(xix) - Maintenance of stores of capital nature is to be properly maintained and if there is any loss or damage due to improper maintenance, cost of capital item will be recovered from host institution.
2. Prayer is also made by petitioners to issue writ order or direction commanding respondents to release funds for pending arrears and interest. Prayer was also sought to retire petitioners on attaining age of 62 years.
3. By filing I.A.No.5771/2025 for amendment one more relief was added that is to issue appropriate writ, order or direction for quashing letter dated 20/08/2024 contained in Annexure P-12. Said amendment application was allowed vide order dated 03/04/2025. Respondents had challenged said order in Writ Appeal No.1385/2025. Appeal was disposed off vide order dated 23/06/2025. Order of amendment dated 03/04/2025 was set aside and Signature Not Verified Signed by: ANURAG SONI Signing time: 01-04-2026 12:16:04 3 WP-23861-2024 interim relief granted on 22/08/2024 was continued until same was modified by learned Single Judge.
4. I.A.No.5771/2025 was filed seeking amendment in Writ Petition. In said application it was stated that respondents had stated in their reply that impugned communication dated 07/05/2024 is withdrawn. Another letter dated 20/08/2024 was written by respondent No.3, which is similar to earlier letter dated 07/05/2024, therefore, petitioners want to challenge letter dated 20/08/2024. By said letter service conditions will be altered and they want to be reduced project based employee coterminous with KVK Project. In view of same, petitioners wanted to add facts in Para 5.2, 21(B) and in grounds from Para 6.7 to 6.10 and in relief clause Para 7.7.
5. No reply has been filed to I.A.No.5771/2025 for proposed amendment. Respondents are granted one more opportunity to file reply to aforesaid application.
6. Counsel appearing for petitioners pressed for complying with interim order dated 22/08/2024 and respondents pressed their I.A.No.4970/2025 for dismissal of writ petition as infructuous since impugned order dated 07/05/2024 has been withdrawn. Case is remanded back by appellate authority setting aside order dated 03/04/2025 by which amendment was allowed, therefore, amendment in writ petition cannot be read. Impugned order dated 07/05/2024 has already been withdrawn. Application filed by respondents for dismissal of writ petition I.A.No.4970/2025 for dismissal of writ petition cannot be considered by court unless respondents filed reply to I.A.No.5771/2025.
Signature Not Verified Signed by: ANURAG SONI Signing time: 01-04-2026 12:16:044 WP-23861-2024
7. In view of aforesaid, Registry is directed to list this matter for considering pending I.A.No.5771/2025, I.A.No.4970/2025 and I.A.No.5769/2025 in week commencing 20/04/2026.
8. Meanwhile, reply to I.A.No.5771/2025 be filed positively as petitioners are in financial stress and not getting salary. In other connected matters also reply to application for amendment be filed.
(VISHAL DHAGAT) JUDGE as Signature Not Verified Signed by: ANURAG SONI Signing time: 01-04-2026 12:16:04