Recall notification on MKU V-C Search Committee, says R.N. Ravi

Recall notification on MKU V-C Search Committee, says R.N. Ravi

The Higher Education Department issued a G.O. notifying the search committee on January 9.

The Hindu Bureau  31.01.2025

CHENNAI

Governor-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University R.N. Ravi has called on the State government to recall the notification it has issued on the constitution of a Vice-Chancellor Search Committee for the university.

In a statement, the Raj Bhavan said the government’s notification “is in difference to the search committee” the Governor had constituted and sent for issuing notification. Mr. Ravi had constituted a committee that included the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman’s nominee, besides those of the Chancellor, the Syndicate, and the Senate of the university, “as per the provisions of the Madurai Kamaraj University Act, 1965, and as per the prevailing regulations of the UGC, 2018, which is held to be mandatory by the Supreme Court.”

He had directed the State government to notify the constitution of the committee through a letter dated December 16, 2024, consisting of four members, with the Chancellor’s nominee as the convener. The Higher Education Department, however, issued a Government Order (G.O.) on January 9, notifying the search committee but “deliberately excluded the UGC Chairman’s nominee, in violation of the Supreme Court judgment,” the statement said.

It cited the case of Prof. (Dr) Sreejith P.S. vs. Dr. Rajasree M.S. and others (Civil Appeal numbers 7634-7635 of 2022, SLP(c) Nos, 21108-21109 of 2021) that any Vice-Chancellor appointment made on the recommendation of a search committee constituted without adhering to the provisions of the UGC Regulations shall be void ab initio.