HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU Case: WP(C) No. 1981/2025 CM No. 4492/2025 CM No. 4493/2025 University of Jammu and Ors. ..... Appellant(s)/Petitioner(s) Through :- Mr. Inderjeet Gupta, Advocate Vs Som Raj .....Respondent(s) Through :- Mr. Nitin Bhasin, Advocate CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SINDHU SHARMA, JUDGE HONBLE MR. JUSTICE SHAHZAD AZEEM, JUDGE ORDER 28.07.2025 01. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is directed against order dated 16.07.2025, passed by the learned Central Administrative Tribunal, Jammu Bench (for short; Tribunal), in Original Application No. 986/2025 titled “Dr. Som Raj v. University of Jammu & Anr.” 02. The respondent preferred an OA in Central Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal) seeking a direction not to replace/substitute him with similar arrangement, contractual or academic. A further direction was sought to allow the respondent to continue as Lecturer Economics in Udhampur campus till regular appointment was made. 03. The Tribunal vide interim order dated 16.07.2025 directed the respondents not to replace the applicant/respondent herein as „Lecturer‟ in the discipline of „Economics‟ in Udhampur Campus, University of Jammu. Sr. No. 17 2 | P a g e WP(C) No. 1981/2025 04. Mr. Inderjeet Gupta, learned counsel for the petitioners-University submits that the respondent had consciously taken part in the process of selection for the post of Lecturer on contract basis and now cannot be permitted to question the same. The respondent has participated in the selection process pursuant to notification dated 01.04.2025, and also appeared in interview. 05. Be that as it may, the impugned order dated 16.07.2025, is only till next date of hearing, and response by the University is yet to be filed in the same. The petitioner can seek modification or vacation of the same. 06. Learned counsel further submits that he will approach the Tribunal for vacation of the interim order and the Tribunal may be directed to decide the same as expeditiously as possible as the next academic session is going to start soon. 07. Having regard to the pleadings and submissions made at the bar, we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order at this stage, but keeping in view the academic interest of the students, we request the learned Tribunal to consider and decide the OA or the application for vacation of stay pending in OA No. 986/2025, within a period of three weeks. In the event the application is not decided within the stipulated period, the petitioner is at liberty to approach this Court. 08. Accordingly, this writ petition is, disposed of, along with connected application(s). (SHAHZAD AZEEM) (SINDHU SHARMA) JUDGE JUDGE JAMMU 28.07.2025 Vishal Khajuria