After urging the government to recall its Vice-Chancellor (V-C) search committee constituted for Annamalai University earlier this week, Governor R.N. Ravi on Friday directed the State to notify the V-C search committees that he had formed for Anna University, Bharathidasan University and Periyar University.
In a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan, released to the media on Friday, Mr. Ravi called upon the government to recall the notifications issued by it as they were not in keeping with the search committees that he had constituted by including the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman’s nominee, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
The Governor pointed out that his panel for Anna University comprised the nominees of the Chancellor, the State government, the Syndicate and the UGC Chairman, in accordance with the provisions of the University’s Act and the UGC Regulations, 2018.
Similarly, the search committees for Bharathidasan and Periyar universities included the nominees of the State government, the universities’ Senate and Syndicate, and the UGC Chairman, the statement added.
The release further pointed out that the Governor-Chancellor, acting within the ambit of Constitutional and legal provisions, had constituted the search committees to ensure a fair and impartial process for selecting V-Cs.
The Governor also objected to the Higher Education Department’s action of notifying the search committee for Bharathidasan University on December 9; and for Periyar and Anna universities on December 13. The government orders were published in the Gazette, and the committees excluded the UGC Chairman’s nominee, he added.
On Thursday, Minister Govi. Chezhiaan cited a Supreme Court judgment, dated July 17, 2013, in support of the government’s stand in the matter. The Raj Bhavan, in its response, said the statement was misleading. The Supreme Court, in another judgment on October 21, 2022, held that any appointment as a V-C made on the recommendation of the search committee constituted contrary to the provisions of the UGC Regulations, shall be void ab initio.
The court had rejected the argument that the State legislation shall prevail, unless the UGC Regulations were specifically adopted by the State, the Governor’s statement pointed out., it added.
Higher Education Minister warns Ravi of action
Mr. Chezhiaan told reporters in Pudukkottai on Friday that the government might have to take legal action to define the functions of the Governor, if Mr. Ravi continued to interfere in matters pertaining to higher education.
The State had followed the rules in constituting V-C search panels with three members. The Governor was unable to differentiate between matters where he could intervene and those where he could not, he said, adding that his insistence on including the UGC chairman’s nominee in the committees was not befitting of the post that he was holding.
Published – December 21, 2024 12:48 am IST
