Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 20 : The Tamil Nadu governor, RN Ravi on Friday slammed the state government, saying that the press release and notifications issued by the government regarding the search committee for the appointment of Vice-Chancellor for certain state universities were "misleading and distortion of facts."
The Governor, also being the Chancellor of State universities of Tamil Nadu constituted Search Committee for identification of the candidates for appointment as Vice-Chancellor to three universities.
According to a statement by Raj Bhavan, the committee is for the appointment in Anna University (Chennai), Bharathidasan University (Tiruchirappalli), and Periyar University (Salem).
"The Search Committee of Anna University includes nominees of the Chancellor, Government of Tamil Nadu, Syndicate of the University and UGC Chairman's nominee, as per provision of Anna University Act and as per prevailing regulations of UGC, 2018," read the Raj Bhavan statement.
However, in the statement, it mentioned that the three notifications issued by the state government regarding the committee "purposefully excluded the UGC Chairman's nominee, in violation of the judgement of Supreme Court."
"The Press Release issued by the Minister for Higher Education is a distortion of facts and misleading. He has mentioned SC's judgement in the case of Jagdish Prasad Sharma and others vs. State of Bihar and others dated Jule 17, 2013, whereas the Supreme Court in its latest judgement dated October 21, 2022 in the case of Prof. (Dr) Sreejith P.S. Vs. Dr.Rajasree M.S. & Others has held that any appointment as a Vice Chancellor made on the recommendation of the Search Committee, which is constituted contrary to the provisions of the UGC Regulations shall be void ab initio."
"The Search Committees of Bharathidasan University and Periyar University includes nominees of the Government, Senate & Syndicate of the University and UGC Chairman's nominee, as per provisions of respective Universities Act and as per prevailing regulations of UGC, 2018," it added.
The inclusion of UGC Chairman's nominee in the Search Committee of these Universities are held to be mandatory by the Supreme Court.
The statement further read that the Chancellor has constituted the committee within the ambit of constitutional and legal provisions, to ensure a fair and impartial selection process.
"This decision aligns with the ethos of academic independence which is critical for fostering excellence and innovation in higher education. Governor-Chancellor has directed the Tamil Nadu Government, to notify the constitution of the Search Committee of Anna University (Chennai) and Bharathidasan University (Tiruchirappalli) vide letters dated 11th November, 2024, and for Periyar University (Salem) vide letter dated 5th December 2024," the statement read.
The Higher education department has also issued certain government orders regarding the search committee. On December 9, they notified the committee for Bharathidasan University; December 13 for Periyar University and Anna University, all published in the official gazette.
Criticising the three notifications further, the statement read, "any selection by the Search Committee constituted without UGC Chairman's nominee is bound to be quashed by the courts. The role of the Vice Chancellor is pivotal in shaping the future of our universities and our students and it is not in the interest of our students to keep the post of Vice-Chancellor vacant."
The Chancellor called upon the government to recall the notifications and directed to notify the search committees for appointment of the Vice Chancellor of Anna University (Chennai), Bharathidasan University, (Tiruchirappalli) and Periyar University, (Salem) as constituted by the Chancellor, which includes the UGC Chairman's nominee.