GUWAHATI, India, Nov. 12 -- Gauhati High Court issued the following order on Oct. 12:

1. Heard Mr. R. Biswas, learned counsel for the petitioner and also heard Mr. S. Das, learned standing counsel for the respondents in Higher Education Department.

2. In this petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has challenged the order dated 30.10.2024, issued by the Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Assam, whereby the petitioner was placed under suspension and also challenged the review order, dated 27.01.2025, issued by the Secretary, Higher Education (Technical) Department wherein petitioner's suspension was further extended for a period of 90 days.

Background Facts:-

3. The background facts, leading to filing of the present petition is briefly stated as under:-

The petitioner was appointed as a Principal, Engineering College and posted as the Principal, Jorhat Engineering College, vide order dated 10.11.2008, and he served there since 25.03.2009 to 10.04.2012. Thereafter, vide order dated 30.03.2012, he was transferred and posted as the Principal of the Assam Engineering College at Guwahati, where he joined on 11.04.2012. Since then, petitioner has been performing his duties without complaint from any quarter. During his tenure, he had taken the institution to new heights of excellence and academic performance. He was also allowed to hold additional charge of the Director of Technical Education for the periods from 01.09.2011 to 16.12.2017 and 23.07.2019 to 04.02.2022.

On 24.08.2012, in the Office of the Commissioner and Secretary, Higher Education Department, a meeting was held to review the overall Hostel and College Administration of the Assam Engineering College. In the said meeting, it was specifically resolved that a professional agency would be engaged for campus security and the approach gates would be repaired and properly manned to monitor the entry of people in vehicles into the campus. Besides, several measures were adopted to improve the situation prevalent in the hostels of the Assam Engineering College, and to meet challenges being faced by hostels of the College.

Then on 30.05.2023, seven students of the Assam Engineering College, who were also boarders in the Hostel of the College, had lost their lives in an unfortunate motor accident. On account of such accident, an order dated 30.05.2023 (Annexure-2) was issued by the Secretary to the Government of Assam, Higher Education Department whereby an enquiry was conducted into allegations that the authorities of the Assam Engineering College had not been exercising proper administrative control to curb alcohol consumption and late-night partying amongst hostel boarders and maintain discipline. The scope of enquiry was to include the system of Hostel administration in all Engineering Colleges and Polytechnic institutes under the Higher Education (Technical) Department, Government of Assam.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=A9S7c5LDIsB6RXaCf816x7JDw5mnDgDtatKpj4Uz7Ipk5z2x1FMpuQ5r7tLlXQkH&caseno=WP(C)/1547/2025&cCode=1&cino=GAHC010055982025&state_code=6&appFlag=)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.