Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record ... vs Union Of India on 6 October, 1993
19. Though the judgement of the Supreme
Court in the case of Indian Administrative Service
(S.C.S.) Association vs. Union of India (1993 )1 Supp.
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SCC 731 has been cited on behalf of the appellants, a
careful perusal shows that the settled principles as to
what shall constitute consultation and when it is
mandatory do not support the case of the appellants.
The judgement approves that prior consultation is
mandatory and more so if its violation would affect
fundamental rights or fair procedure. In the present
case, the dispute whether opinion or advice of the State
Government will bind the Chancellor or not is not at
all in issue. The controversy is in respect of earlier
stage- as to whether the State Government should have
adequate opportunity to give its opinion or advice in
respect of the appointees. The procedure and details as
to who shall be taken into consideration on account of
eligibility and who shall be selected out of eligible
persons has rightly not been prescribed by the Act
because the appointment and consultation process has
been left in the hand of high Constitutional
functionaries. Nonetheless, like any selection process it
must be fair. Consultation with the State Government
has been introduced by the Legislature with the
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obvious aim of making the selection procedure wider
in ambit, deeper in contents, transparent and fair. The
State Government has the means to render intensive
and extensive information and input in course of
consultation. The consultation in such important matter
and at such high level needs to be effective so that after
the Chancellor has made tentative choice on
considering the entire information and input given by
the State Government, the latter may provide further
relevant information, if available, in respect of
tentatively selected persons, in order to avoid the risk
of Universities being placed in the hands of wrong
persons or unsuitable persons.