After asking the government to recall its vice-chancellor (VC) search committee formed for Annamalai University earlier this week, Governor RN Ravi on Friday directed the state to inform the chancellor search committees he had formed for Anna University, Bharathidasan University and Periyar University. .
In a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan to the media on Friday, Ravi asked the University Grants Commission to withdraw the notification issued by the government as it was not in accordance with the search committees formed by him. (UGC) Chairman’s nominee, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
The Governor pointed out that his panel for Anna University includes the nominees of the Chancellor, the State Government, the Syndicate and the UGC Chairman as per the provisions of the Universities Act and UGC Rules, 2018.
Similarly, the search committees of Bharathidasan and Periyar universities included nominees of the state government, senates and syndicates of the universities and UGC chairpersons, the release said.
The Governor-Chancellor has formed search committees to ensure a fair and impartial process for the selection of the Vice-Chancellor within the scope of the constitutional and legal provisions, it is mentioned in the statement.
The governor also objected to the higher education department’s action in notifying the search committee for Bharathidasan University on December 9; and on December 13 for Periyar and Anna Universities. Government orders were published in the gazette, and committees boycotted the nomination of the UGC chairman, he added.
Thursday Minister Gov. Chejian cited a July 17, 2013 Supreme Court ruling in support of the government’s stance on the matter. Raj Bhavan, in its response, said the statement was misleading. The Supreme Court, in another judgment dated October 21, 2022, held that any appointment as Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of a search committee constituted is contrary to the provisions of the UGC Rules. Cancel the start.
The court rejected the argument that state law prevails unless the UGC rules are specifically adopted by the state, the governor’s statement pointed out.
Higher Education Minister’s warning to take action against Ravi
Mr. Chezhiyan told reporters in Pudukottai on Friday that if Mr. Ravi continues to interfere in higher education matters, the government may have to take legal action to define the governor’s job.
The state had followed the rules while forming a three-member vice-chancellor search panel. The governor could not distinguish between where he could intervene and where he could not, he said, adding that his insistence on including the nomination of the UGC chairman in the committees was not befitting the position he held.
published – December 21, 2024 at 12:48 pm IST