- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010504112026 NC: 2026:KHC:47371-DB WA No. 1802 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN WRIT APPEAL NO. 1802 OF 2026 (S-PRO) BETWEEN: NATIONAL ASSEMMENT AND ACCEREDITATION COUNCIL (NAAC) PB NO. 1075, NAGARBHAVI, BENGALURU-560 072. REPRESENTED BY MR. ARUN M ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER …APPELLANT (BY SRI. T.P. MUTHANNA.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. DR PRIYA N (M.SC, PH.D) AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, W/O SRIHARI SRINIVASAN, ASSISTANT ADVISER, NATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND ACCREDITATION COUNCIL PB NO. 1075, NAGARBHAVI, BENGALURU-560 072. 2. THE UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION (MINISTRY OF EDUCATION), GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BAHADURSHAH ZAFAR MARG NEW DELHI – 110 002. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.SATISH.K, ADVOCATE FOR C/R1(CP 18291/26) SRI.SHRIKAR ALANGAR JAYAGOVIND, ADVOCATE FOR R2) Digitally signed by MALA K N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010504112026 NC: 2026:KHC:47371-DB WA No. 1802 of 2026 THIS WRIT APPEAL FILED U/S 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE RECORDS AND A) SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 10/07/2024 PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE IN WP NO.6924/2022 ANDS B) GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEF/s THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH) The present intra-court appeal has been filed impugning the order dated 10.07.2024 passed by the Writ Court in Writ Petition No.6924/2022 (S-PRO). 2. For the sake of convenience, the parties shall be referred to as per their ranking before the Writ Court. 3. Petitioner had filed the writ petition impugning the Endorsement dated 23.03.2022 issued by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (‘NAAC’ for brevity), informing the petitioner that her request for promotion to the post of Deputy Adviser could not be considered - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010504112026 NC: 2026:KHC:47371-DB WA No. 1802 of 2026 because she had not completed eight years of regular service as Assistant Adviser. 4. Under the Rules and Regulations of NAAC, the post of Deputy Adviser is filled through two sources, that is, ‘by promotion from the post of Assistant Adviser’ and ‘direct recruitment’. 5. It is not in dispute that while making direct recruitment, the experience rendered on the post of Assistant Professor etc., is counted. However, for promotion, such experience is not counted. We do not find any discernible intelligible differentia, which would justify such a stand of NAAC in denying to count experience on the post of Assistant Professor, etc., while making promotion but for direct recruitment, such a promotion is counted. 6. We are, therefore, of the view that, the learned Single Judge has taken a correct view in the matter. We find no error in the findings recorded by the learned Single - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010504112026 NC: 2026:KHC:47371-DB WA No. 1802 of 2026 Judge, and do not require an interference by this Court. Thus, this intra-Court appeal stands dismissed. Any pending I.As also stand disposed of. Sd/- (D K SINGH) JUDGE Sd/- (H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN) JUDGE KNM List No.: 2 Sl No.: 10