GO on probe panel violates SC decisions, says Raj Bhavan

In yet another rift between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor RN Ravi, the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday said that the Government Order (GO) issued to notify the search committee to identify the new vice-chancellor of Annamalai University has violated the Supreme Court. Decisions.

Mr. Ravi noted that the Higher Education Department had deliberately excluded the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman nominee from the panel. He asked the state to withdraw the December 9 notification. As Chancellor of the University, Mr. Ravi constituted a panel for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, the Raj Bhavan said.

The search committee comprises the nominees of the Chancellor, Government of Tamil Nadu, Syndicate of the University and UGC Chairman, as per the Annamalai University Act and the prevailing rules of the UGC in 2018, which are mandated by the Supreme Court. The court said Raj Bhavan.

Governor’s Directive

The Governor-Chancellor had directed the Tamil Nadu government to inform the Tamil Nadu government through a letter dated October 25, 2024, of the formation of a search committee for Annamalai University, in which the Chancellor was nominated as the convenor of the four-member committee, the Raj Bhavan added. .

The Supreme Court has already heard the case of Sreejith PS Vs. Rajshree MS and others said that any appointment as VC on the recommendation of a search committee constituted contrary to the provisions of the UGC rules would be void ab initio, it pointed out.

The notification issued by the government is at variance with the constituted search committee and is void ab initio.

The chancellor also called on the state government to inform the search committee constituted by the chancellor for the appointment of the chancellor of Annamalai University, which includes the nomination of the UGC chairman, the Raj Bhavan said.