Wangkhem Ranjan vs The Manipur University Represented By … on 25 February, 2026

Manipur High Court

Wangkhem Ranjan vs The Manipur University Represented By … on 25 February, 2026

Author: A. Bimol Singh

Bench: A. Bimol Singh

KHOIROM Digitally
          KHOIROM
                   signed by

BIPINCHAN Date: 2026.02.25SINGH
          BIPINCHANDRA

DRA SINGH 20:00:28 +05'30'                                                           Item No. 1 - 2

                                           IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
                                                     AT IMPHAL

                                                W.P.(C) No. 147 of 2026


                      1.          Wangkhem Ranjan, S/o Wangkhem Binoy Singh, aged
                      about 25 years S/o a resident of Ningomthong Sairom Leirak,
                      P.O. Singjamei, P.S. Singjamei, Imphal West District, Manipur -
                      795008.
                      2.          Mr. Sukham Bidyananda, aged about 35 years, S/o
                      Sukham Kumar Singh, a resident of Bashikhong Torban Leikai,
                      P.O. Singjamei, P.S. Irilbung, Imphal East District, Manipur -
                      795008.
                                                                                   ... Petitioners
                                                        - Versus -


                      1.          The Manipur University represented by Registrar,
                      Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal West, Manipur -
                      795003).
                      2.          Ministry of Education, Government of India though
                      Secretary, Department of Higher Education, 122-c, Shastri
                      Bhawan, New Delhi - 110001.
                      3.          University Grants Commission (UGC) through Chairman,
                      Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110002.


                                                                                ... Respondents

                                                         With
                                              MC[W.P.(C)] No. 152 of 2026




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                         B E F O R E
          HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. M. SUNDAR
            HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A. BIMOL SINGH



                             O R D E R

[M. Sundar, CJ]

25.02.2026

[1] Manipur University at Canchipur, Imphal issued an

advertisement being Advertisement No. 2/2025 dated 13.05.2025 inviting

applications from eligible candidates for appointment to 78 (seventy eight)

posts (Group – B and Group – C posts). To be noted, names of the posts

are 12 (twelve) in number and in the captioned matter the writ petitioners

are concerned with Junior Assistant and Peon/Multi-Tasking Staff (Janitor,

Chowkidar, Ward Boy/Mess Helper, Gardener, Conductor cum Cleaner,

Sweeper). To be noted, first writ petitioner applied for latter and the

second writ petitioner applied for the former. The first writ petitioner was

unsuccessful but the second writ petitioner did not appear for the

examination apprehending that examination may be set aside on the

ground that the cadre Recruitment Rules of Manipur University are likely

to be struck down.

[2] Mr. Keisham Kishan, learned counsel on record for writ

petitioners submits that the uploaded advertisement has been issued

pursuant to cadre Recruitment Rules of Non-Teaching Posts, 2024 (‘CRR

Rules’ for convenience) but CRR Rules are liable to be struck down on the

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ground that it does not have the approval of the Visitor and it was further

submitted that the Visitor is Hon’ble President of India.

[3] Though learned counsel for writ petitioners predicated his

campaign against CRR on the above point, on a close scrutiny of CRR, the

following points come to light –

(a) CRR which has been made by the executive council

of Manipur University says that it has been made in

exercise of powers under Section 31(1)(p) of the

Statutes but Section 31 of the Statutes does not

have any sub-Section or Sub-Clause;

(b) CRR also says that it is pursuant to Ordinance D-14

but entire Ordinance D-14 is not before us though it

comes to light that Ordinance D-14 is an Ordinance

made vide resolution No. 14/40 made by the

executive council of Manipur University in the

meeting held on 30.12.2024.

[4]           Issue notice.

[5]           Mr. Anjan Prasad Sahu, learned counsel accepted notice for

R-1 (Manipur University represented by Registrar, Manipur University,

Canchipur, Imphal West, Manipur – 795003), Mr. S. Vijayanand, learned

Sr. PCCG (Senior Panel Counsel for Central Government) accepted notice

for R-2 (Ministry of Education, Government of India though Secretary,

Department of Higher Education, 122-C, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi –

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110001) and Mr. Jasobanta, learned counsel accepted notice for R-3

[University Grants Commission (UGC) through Chairman, Bahadur Shah

Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002]. To be noted, R-1, R-2 and R-3 are

abbreviations denoting first, second and third respondents respectively.

R-3 will be referred to as ‘UGC’ also for the sake of convenience.

[6] Mr. BP. Sahu, learned senior advocate appeared on behalf

of Mr. Anjan Prasad Sahu who accepted notice for R-1.

[7] This Court wanted to know from learned senior counsel the

Rule making power of the executive council of Manipur University. This

Court also wanted to know the reason for reference of Section 31(1)(p)

of the Statutes when there is no such provision.

[8] Learned senior counsel very fairly submitted that Section

31(1)(p) may be a reference to Section 31(1)(p) of the ‘Manipur University

Act, 2005 (No. 54 of 2005)’ {‘MU Act’ for the sake of brevity}. As regards

Ordinance, learned senior counsel submitted that it appears to be an

Ordinance made vide Ordinance making power traceable to Section 31(1)

of MU Act but he also submitted that it is necessary for his instructing

counsel to get further instructions before he advances arguments in this

regard.

[9] As the Rule making power qua executive council of Manipur

University for making CRR itself needs to be examined, it is a case of

examining the very substratum i.e., the very foundation of the recruitment

edifice.

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[10] As regards the interim prayer in the captioned MC, though

writ petitioners have sought for a prayer to withhold declaration of results

pursuant to afore-referred 13.05.2025 advertisement, as we are informed

that results have been published and uploaded in website day before

yesterday (23.02.2026), we resort to second limb of the interim prayer

which is residuary limb which seeks ‘any other order’.

[11] Learned senior counsel on instructions from instructing

counsel who in turn has got instructions from the Registrar of Manipur

University submitted that though results have been published, no

appointment orders have been issued. To be noted, it was initially

submitted (on instructions from Registrar) that all candidates have been

given appointment orders and have even joined but when passed over

and called upon to produce files on instructions from Registrar it was

submitted that no appointment orders have been issued. Learned senior

counsel very fairly expressed regret in this regard.

[12] The narrative thus far makes it clear that prima facie case

has been made out qua campaign against CRR, balance of convenience is

in favour of staying issue of appointment orders as it can create third

party rights and also put in peril the exercise leading to possible

irreparable legal injury. As all parameters for grant of interim order namely

prima facie case, balance of convenience and irreparable legal injury have

been made out, there shall be an order of interim stay staying issue of

appointment orders to candidates who have been declared successful or

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to any other person/s and all further proceedings pursuant to

advertisement No. 2/2025, dated 13.05.2025 shall be remain stayed/be

kept in abeyance. (To be noted, as it is not a case of any alleged illegality

qua writ petitioners and it is a case of challenge to CRR itself we are not

limiting interim order to keeping one post vacant.) This interim stay will

operate till next listing. To be noted, Mr. Anjan Prasad Sahu sought listing

immediately after Yaoshang vacation for getting instructions for enabling

learned senior counsel to address this Court.

[13]          List on 10.03.2026.




                            JUDGE                 CHIEF JUSTICE
Bipin



P.S. I :      Upload forthwith.

P.S. II :     All concerned will stand bound by web copy

uploaded in High Court website inter alia as the same
is QR coded.

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