In a strongly worded ruling, the Allahabad High Court has come down heavily on Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, for repeatedly targeting a senior staff member despite earlier court directions. The Court quashed the university’s fourth termination order against Smt. Meena Singh, observing that the proceedings were tainted with bias and lacked legal foundation.
Background
Meena Singh joined Gautam Buddha University in 2010 as a Private Secretary on a contractual basis. Her record, by all accounts, remained exemplary for years, earning her promotions and glowing assessments. Trouble began in 2020 after she lodged a complaint against the officiating Registrar, S.N. Tiwari, alleging harassment. What followed was a string of suspensions, inquiries, and no less than four termination orders.
Each time, she challenged the decisions before the High Court and each time, the court either set aside the orders or directed fresh proceedings with safeguards. Yet, the university pressed on. The latest round saw her dismissal in December 2024 on allegations of misrepresentation about her academic qualifications.
Court's Observations
Justice Manju Rani Chauhan minced no words while highlighting the irregularities. "This Court is constrained to observe," she remarked,
"that the initiation of proceedings against the petitioner on such untenable grounds reflects a clear abuse of process and smacks of mala fides."
The bench also noted that there was no evidence proving that Singh ever gained undue benefit by prefixing Dr. before her name or mentioning she was pursuing a Ph.D. "Even if it is assumed that she had written so," the order stated, "the same by itself cannot be construed as misconduct."
The Court expressed displeasure at how, despite earlier rulings, the university persisted with fresh inquiries.
"The concerned authorities, in utter disregard of this Court's directions, proceeded to conduct a fresh enquiry with the sole object of punishing the petitioner," the bench observed.
The Decision
After reviewing the record, the Court concluded that the termination could not stand. It categorically quashed the Registrar's order dated 14.12.2024 and directed the university to immediately reinstate Singh as Staff Officer to the Vice Chancellor.
"With the aforesaid directions, writ petition stands allowed," Justice Chauhan declared,
bringing relief to the petitioner after nearly five years of litigation.
Case Title: Smt. Meena Singh vs. State of U.P. and 3 Others
Case No.: Writ - A No. 3471 of 2025