Sujata V. Manohar, J.

On 1.6.91 an advertisement was issued for the post, inter alia, of a Professor in the Post-Graduate Department of Law, University of Sambalpur. In the advertisement the essential qualifications for the post of Professor were :

"An eminent scholar, actively engaged in research with published work of high quality. About 10 years experience of teaching and/or research. Experience of guiding research at doctoral level.

OR

An outstanding scholar with established reputation who has made significant contribution to knowledge."

2. The essential qualification prescribed in the advertisement included 10 years experience of teaching and/or research. This was in accordance with the then existing guidelines of the University Grants Commission prescribing minimum qualifications for appointment to the post of Professor. The last date of submitting application was 15.7.91.

3. On 25.7.91 the Syndicate prepared an assessment chart of the candidates who had submitted their applications pursuant to the advertisement. On 11.5.92 interviews were held for the post by the specially constituted Selection Committee. The Committee selected the present appellant for appointment to the post of Professor in the Post Graduate Department of Law, University of Sambalpur.

4. The original respondent No. 1 challenged the selection and appointment of the appellant on the ground that the guidelines prescribed by the University Grants Commission were changed with effect from 19.9.91. Under the changed guidelines, for the post of a Professor, 10 years experience of teaching, now prescribed was, in Post-Graduate Teaching and/or Research at the University/National Level Institutions including experience or guiding research at doctoral level. The contention of the original respondent that the appellant did not possess 10 years experience of teaching at the Post Graduate level was accepted by the High Court which set aside the appointment. The appellant has, however, continued in the post pursuant to the directions originally given by the High Court and thereafter on account of the interim order of this Court. The original Ist respondent is now dead. He was one of the candidate for the post and had submitted that since he was at No. 2 in the select list, he should have been selected in place of the appellant. This aspect of the dispute does not now survive. The only narrow question which remains for consideration is about the qualification of the appellant for being appointed to the post of Professor at the relevant time.

5. It is an accepted position that on the date of the advertisement and on the last date prescribed for the receipt of applications, the qualification prescribed by the University Grants Commission was 10 years experience of teaching and/or research. Therefore, the advertisement also prescribed the same qualification. Even on the date when the Syndicate prepared an assessment chart, the position was the same. It was only thereafter, on 19.9.91 that the new qualification regarding ten years teaching experience at the post-graduate level came into effect.

6. When the selection process has actually commenced and the last date for inviting applications is over, any subsequent change in the requirement regarding qualifications by the University Grants Commission will not affect the process of selection which has already commenced. Otherwise it would involve issuing a fresh advertisement with the new qualifications. In the case of P. Mahendran v. State of Karnataka, 1990(1) SCC 411 at 416 : AIR 1990 SC 405 [LQ/SC/1989/615] at pp. 408 and 409 this Court has observed :

"It is well settled rule of construction that every statute or statutory rule is prospective unless it is expressly or by necessary implication made to have retrospective effect."

The Court further observed that :

"Since the amending rules were not retrospective, it could not adversely affect the right of those candidates who were qualified for selection and appointment on the date they applied for the post, moreover, as the process of selection had already commenced when the amending Rules came into force, the amended Rules could not effect the existing rights of those candidates who were being considered for selection as they possessed the requisite qualifications prescribed by the Rules before its amendment."

7. In the present case, therefore, the appellant possessed the necessary qualifications as advertised on the last date receiving applications. These qualifications were in accordance with the Rules/guidelines then in force. There is also no doubt that the appellant obtained higher marks than the original respondent No. 1 at the selection. There is no challenge to the process of slection, nor is there any allegation of mala fides in the process of selection.

8. In the result, the impugned judgment and order of the High Court is set aside. The original Writ Petition filed before the High Court is dismissed and the selection of the appellant is upheld. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.

Order accordingly.