News Citation : 2026 LN (HC) 187 | 2026:CGHC:10458-DB
February 28, 2026 : The Chhattisgarh High Court has upheld the rejection of a Mathematics lecturer’s request for study leave to pursue a PhD, reiterating that such leave cannot be claimed as a matter of right and remains subject to the discretion of the employer.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru dismissed a writ appeal filed by Chitranjan Lal, who is serving as a Lecturer (Mathematics) at Government Polytechnic College, Bijapur. The appeal challenged an earlier order of a Single Judge that had refused to grant relief in the matter.
According to the case records, the lecturer had initially sought permission from the Principal of Government Polytechnic College, Bijapur to pursue higher studies. His application was forwarded to the Secretary of the Department of Skill Development, Technical Education and Employment, Government of Chhattisgarh. Permission to pursue higher studies was granted in September 2024. Following this, he secured admission in Government Nagarjun Post Graduate Science College, Raipur for a PhD programme and subsequently applied for study leave.
However, as his application for study leave remained pending, he approached the High Court seeking directions for its consideration. The Single Judge dismissed the petition, noting that the applicable parameters for pursuing higher education required admission to an institute of national importance. The court observed that the petitioner had failed to demonstrate that the institution where he had enrolled met this requirement.
Challenging this decision in a writ appeal, the lecturer argued that he had already been admitted to a PhD programme, which is the highest academic qualification, and therefore he should be granted study leave. He also relied on a state policy dated October 14, 2022, which regulates study leave for M.Phil and PhD courses, contending that there was no adverse finding regarding the policy in the earlier order.
The Division Bench, however, found no merit in the appeal. The court observed that while government servants may be permitted to pursue courses that advance the interests of the institution where they serve, study leave involves continued payment of salary and benefits from public funds.
The Bench emphasized that when public resources are used to facilitate higher education, such investment must ultimately benefit both the institution and the public at large. Since the appellant failed to establish that he had taken admission in an institute of national importance, he did not satisfy the eligibility criteria laid down for granting study leave.
Reaffirming the settled legal position, the court noted that leave for higher studies is not an enforceable right but depends on the approval and discretion of the employer. Finding no illegality or perversity in the Single Judge’s order, the Division Bench declined to interfere and dismissed the writ appeal at the motion stage itself.
Case Reference : WA No. 64 of 2026, Chitranjan Lal S/o Shri Bhola Ram vs State of Chhattisgarh and Another; Counsels: For Appellant: Mr. Somkant Verma, Advocate; For Respondent/State: Mr. S.S. Baghel, Deputy Government Advocate.
