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3. Petitioner Smt. Runu Debbarma applied under Advertisement No.11/2022 for being appointed as an Assistant Professor under the respondents on the strength of her claim that she has teaching experience as Guest Lecturer in Kokborok subject in Ramkrishna Mahavidyalaya, Kailashahar. Her experience as Guest Lecturer has not been counted in computing the API score relying upon Clause-10.0 (Para-a to f) of the UGC Regulations, 2018. The Scrutiny Committee has evolved a novel method for counting the teaching score, though the Advertisement No.11/2022 dated 18.04.2022 published by the Tripura Public Service Commission does not prescribe therefor. This petitioner had joined as Guest Lecturer in Ramkrishna Mahavidyalaya, Kailashahar in 2012. She has completed her Diploma in Kokborok subject from Tripura University in the same year and also Masters in the same language in the year 2018. She has been engaged as Guest Lecturer by memorandum dated 25.07.2012 till 2017. Petitioner also seems to have made a representation before the respondent No.3 to 5 in terms of the notification dated 23.12.2022 to count her service rendered as a Guest Lecturer in the said Mahavidyalaya from 2012 till 2017.

4. Petitioner Smt. Pramila Debbarma, also has made a similar grievance that her teaching experience as Guest Lecturer in Kokborok subject in MBB College, Agartala has not been counted in computing the API score relying upon Clause-10.0 (Para-a to f) of the UGC Regulations, 2018. She has staked a claim for counting her service as Guest Lecturer in MBB College, Agartala w.e.f. 2014 till 2019. She had completed her 3 years Degree Course under Tripura University in the year 2010 in the same subject and Masters in the year 2018.

5. Petitioner Smt. Jamuna Debbarma has also staked a claim for counting her tenure as Guest Lecturer in Dasaratha Deb Memorial College, Khowai from the period 2011 to 2015 in the subject of Kokborok which has not been counted as teaching experience relying upon Clause 10.0 (Para-a to f) of the UGC Regulations, 2018 in the recruitment exercise under the same Advertisement No.11/2022.

6. In all the writ petitions, Counter Affidavits have been filed and a common stand has been taken. The respondents have contended that petitioners have consciously participated in the selection process and now cannot turn around to question the procedure followed by the Tripura Public Service Commission for computation of 2(two) marks each for each year towards teaching experience as per the criteria prescribed by the Selection Committee and approved by the Commission in conformity with Clause 10.0 of the UGC Regulations, 2018. The Clause 10.0 of UGC Regulations in particular, Clause 10.0(e) of UGC Regulations, 2018 prescribes that previous appointment should not be as a Guest Lecturer for any duration. For counting of past service, Clause 10.0(f) has been adopted by the Commission. It is submitted that the petitioners, therefore, do not have a valid claim for counting their services as Guest Lecturer for computation of API score for preparation of the merit list.

7. Mr. Raju Datta, learned counsel for the respondents-TPSC, has relied upon a single bench decision of this Court in WP(C) No.950/2022 dated 10.11.2022 in the case of Sri Kanu Nath v. The State of Tripura & 2 others, which is also related to the same grievance of counting the tenure as Guest Lecturer in the subject of History under Advertisement No.08/2020 towards computation of API score. However, it is submitted that the Writ Court declined the relief taking note of the fact that the term of Guest Lecturer can, in no way, be counted for the purposes of computation of API score in view of Clause 10.0(e) of the UGC Regulations, 2018.