Tripura High Court Pulls Up Tripura University, Orders Payment of Contractual Assistant Professor's Outstanding Salary Within 10 Days
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, June 25, 2026
In a significant development, the Tripura High Court has issued a strong directive to Tripura University (TU), ordering the Central University to clear the outstanding salary of contractual Assistant Professor Sumanta Saha within ten days and to continue paying his monthly salary until the final disposal of WP(C) No. 314 of 2026.
The order was passed on June 23, 2026, by Hon'ble Justice Biswajit Palit while hearing IA No. 02 of 2026 in connection with the pending writ petition.
The case stems from the abrupt termination of Sumanta Saha, who had been serving as a contractual Assistant Professor at Tripura University since January 4, 2008. After rendering nearly 18 and a half years of uninterrupted service, he was removed from service on April 24, 2026, allegedly without prior notice. Challenging the termination as arbitrary and illegal, Saha approached the Tripura High Court seeking judicial intervention.
Earlier, on May 8, 2026, Justice Biswajit Palit had stayed the operation of the University's termination order and directed the University to re-engage the petitioner. Instead of challenging that order before a higher forum, Tripura University filed IA No. 02 of 2026, contending that the earlier order had been passed ex parte without hearing the University's side and sought its vacation.
During the hearing on June 23, Senior Advocate Debalay Bhattacharya, assisted by Advocate Tapas Kumar Debbarma, appeared on behalf of Tripura University. Representing the writ petitioner, Senior Advocate Purusuttam Roy Barman, assisted by Advocate Kaushik Nath, argued that the May 8 order had been passed after hearing both parties and therefore could not be described as an interim or ex parte order.
After examining the records, Justice Biswajit Palit categorically rejected the University's contention, observing that the order dated May 8, 2026 had indeed been passed after a detailed hearing of both sides and was not an interim or ex parte order. The Court further noted that Tripura University had never challenged that order before any appellate forum. Consequently, the Court found no merit in the University's application and dismissed IA No. 02 of 2026.
In addition, while hearing the petitioner's application seeking release of unpaid salary, the Court directed Tripura University to pay all outstanding salary dues to Sumanta Saha within ten days and further ordered that his monthly salary shall continue to be paid until the writ petition is finally decided, providing interim financial relief to the petitioner.
The proceedings have also raised questions over the affidavit submitted by the University's Registrar (In-Charge), in which it was claimed that the earlier High Court order had been passed without hearing the University's side. The Court's observations rejecting this claim have drawn attention to the University's handling of the litigation.
According to discussions within academic circles, concerns have also been raised regarding the legal advice allegedly provided to the University's administration. It is being suggested that misleading advice may have resulted in avoidable litigation, financial implications for the institution, and adverse observations before the High Court. These, however, remain matters of public discussion and have not been judicially determined.
With the dismissal of the University's application and the fresh direction to release salary arrears, the High Court has reaffirmed its earlier protection granted to Sumanta Saha, while the main writ petition challenging his termination continues to remain pending before the Court.
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