In Brief
Dr. M.S. Jayakumar, who obtained his Ph.D. in 2006, was appointed as Lecturer in Sociology by the University of Kerala in 2012. When the 2009 UGC regulations restricted NET exemption to only those Ph.D. holders who obtained their degrees after 2009, his appointment was challenged and set aside by the High Court. The Supreme Court reversed this, holding that the 2016 and 2018 UGC regulations—which restored exemption for pre-2009 Ph.D. holders—applied retrospectively. As clarificatory and curative amendments, they restored Dr. Jayakumar's lawful status, protecting his seniority and benefits.
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