‘PIL seeks reservation in V-C appointments

Govt. deliberately ignoring SC/STs’

The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the State government on a Public Interest Litigation seeking adequate representation to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities, women and minorities in the appointment/nomination to the posts of vice chancellors and members to the governing councils, boards of management, syndicate and senate of the 21 State universities.

When the PIL moved by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan came up for hearing before the First Bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar, the Bench ordered notice to the State government, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Governor of Tamil Nadu in his capacity as the Chancellor of the State universities returnable by July 17.

According to the petitioner, though the Constitution has provided scope for adequate reservation for the SC/ST, women and minorities in all the government appointments, no such opportunities are given when it comes to the appointment of vice chancellors and members of other boards in the universities.

“Though many competitive candidates are available from these categories, not even minimal representation is given to them. They are wantonly and wilfully ignored by the government in such high-profile appointments,” said advocate Palanimuthu, representing the petitioner.

He wanted the court to direct the authorities to consider his representation dated March 13 and to ensure adequate representation to the SC/STs and others as mandated by the Constitution.