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cause of the petitioner. Respondent-University, however, insists upon condition of qualifying NET for becoming eligible to participate in the selection process even for Ph.D. degree holders, hence the writ petition.

of

2. The case 2(i) Respondent No.1-State University issued an rt advertisement on 10.07.2025 inviting applications for several posts of Scientist/Assistant Professor or equivalent in various disciplines including the post of Scientist/equivalent in the discipline of Seed Science and Technology at Serial No.2 of the advertisement. The qualification prescribed for the said posts required qualifying NET from UGC/CISR and ICAR or similar test accredited by UGC in the concerned discipline. The condition of qualifying NET was made compulsory for candidates having Master's Degree. This condition, however, was specifically termed not essential for the candidates registered for Ph.D prior to 11.07.2009, subject to satisfaction of certain parameters. Being relevant, the clause pertaining to qualification is extracted hereinafter: -

"QUALIFICATIONS:-
Posts at Sr. No. 1 to 15 (Agriculture Faculty) ( 2025:HHC:39215 ) M.Sc./M.Tech/MBA having qualified NET from UGC/ CSIR, ICAR or similar test accredited by UGC in the concerned discipline. Note:- For the candidates having Master's degree, NET shall remain compulsory along with one publication in NAAS (National .

Regarding respondent No.1-University's reliance upon ICAR letter dated 26.12.2021, ICAR has clarified that under the said letter, NET was to remain a compulsory criterion for candidates possessing Master's Degrees. The requirement of NET would be waived for candidates holding Ph.D. Degrees, provided the Ph.D. was completed with course work & fulfillment of other parameters as prescribed under the UGC Regulations, 2009, and the candidates had at least two full-length publications with a NAAS rating of not less than 4 as on the last date of submission of applications. Only those candidates with Ph.D. Degrees who did not have course work to their credit were not to qualify for NET exemption. In view of the stand taken by ICAR regarding its circular ( 2025:HHC:39215 ) dated 26.12.2011, the reliance placed by the respondent-University upon the aforesaid letter for amending its statute stands discredited.

4(v)(c) The ICAR has taken a clear stand that UGC .

regulations of exempting Ph.D. degree holders from NET essentiality are applicable to respondent-university and to all agricultural universities in the country. Even otherwise, respondent-

University's endeavour to take shelter of two previous letters of of ICAR dated 23.12.2011 & 09.03.2017 to justify imposing NET essentiality even for Ph.D. degree holders is misplaced. These rt letters do not impose such condition upon Ph.D. degree holders.