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PETITIONER: DR. NARINDER SINGH POONIA

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       09/12/1996

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, G.T. NANAVATI

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      Leave granted.      This appeal  by special  leave arises from the judgment of the  Division Bench  of the  Madhya Pradesh  High  Court, Indore Bench,  made on October 25, 1995 in W.P. No. 1349/95. In this  case, we  are not  concerned with  the  controversy between the  appellant and  the University  as  to  why  the latter  kept   the  former  under  suspension  etc.  We  are concerned with  the  legality  of  the  termination  of  the project entitled  "Chemical, Physico-Chemical Structural and theoretical investigations  of  alkali  and  alkaline  earth cation systems-Chemistry of use to biological and geological processes" on  which the  appellant was conducting research. The Government  of India  in their  order had put one of the conditions for completion of project, i.e., condition No.XIII which reads as under:      "The   Dept.    of   Science    and      Technology reserves  the  right  to      terminate the  grant the  grant has      not  been   properly  utilised   or      appropriate progress  is not  being      made."      It would appear that there was some dispute between the appellant and the University-Devi Ahilya University, Indore. In this  behalf, we  are not concerned therewith, though the appellant sought to place before us that he was not at fault and on  the other  hand, the  University  was  at  fault  in preventing him to complete the project. Notice was issued by this Court  to the  Union of  India.  Dr.  R.C.  Srivastava, Director in the Ministry of Science and Technology has filed an affidavit  in which  he has stated in paragraph 10 of the counter-affidavit thus:      "On 16.9.94, the Registrar has sent      the  information   through  courier      service the  current status  of the      project and  facts  at  that  time.      Prof.  Poonia   PI,  the  appellant      herein was  still under  suspension      and Dr. Bajpai Co-PI had refused to      undertake   the    financial    and

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    Management  responsibility  of  the      Project. Under  those circumstances      and as per out DST Norms/Guidelines      the Project  was terminated  by the      Department on 22.9.94 at that stage      and requested  University to submit      and settle the final expenditure on      the project  and to  return unspent      balance to  DST if  any  and  final      Technical Report."      In view  of this  report, we  think  that  it  being  a disputed question,  we  cannot  decide  the  matter  in  the appeal. Under  these circumstances,  liberty is given to the appellant to  approach the  Union of  India and apprise them that  he  did  the  research  in  the  project  as  per  the guidelines and made necessary progress; and if it is not so, to  give   the  reasons   therefor.  If  the  Government  is satisfied, appropriate  time may  be given  to the appellant for completing  the project.  It would be for the Government of India to take the decision in that behalf.      The appeal is accordingly disposed of. No costs.