‘Adhere only to UGC 2010 fiat while naming aided college principals’
CHENNAI: Putting an end to the
uncertainty over norms for appointment of principals in government-aided
colleges across Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court has directed the
State higher education department to invariably follow UGC Regulations,
2010 in this regard.
Though
the University Grants Commission (UGC), the apex regulator body for
higher education in the country replaced Regulations of 2000 with
subsequent regulation of 2010, several government and aided colleges
adopted UGC Regulations, 2000 for appointing teachers and other
academic staff.
In one such instance, Ethiraj College
for Women in Chennai appointed M Thilakavathy, professor from department
of history and tourism as the Principal of the college in 2014. A group
of senior and meritorious professors, who were far-more qualified,
challenged this appointment of a junior person as principal in the
Madras High Court on the ground that selection had been made following
UGC Regulations 2000, even though the regulations were superseded by UGC
Regulations, 2010.
The three-member selection committee
constituted to select the principal had not considered Academic
Performance Indicators (API) Scores and Performance Based Appraisal
System (PBAS) as mandated by UGC Regulations, 2010, claimed the
petitioners. “Professor S Vittal, one of the three selection committee
members was absent on the day of selection”. In response to this, the
college management argued that API scores were meant only for screening
purpose and UGC Regulations and appointment was made based on UGC
Regulations, 2000, which states that discretion in this regard lies only
with the chairperson of the said committee.
After hearing arguments from both the
sides, Justice M M Sundresh in January 2015 set aside the appointment of
Thilakavathy as principal and directed the college to follow the
selection procedure as contemplated under UGC Regulations, 2010. The
court, however, allowed Thilakavathy to continue as principal until a
fresh selection was made. The chairman board of trustees, Ethiraj
College went on an appeal and a comprising Justices Huluvadi G Ramesh
and Teeka Raman on June 22 upheld the single judge’s verdict and
directed the college management to select the principal on the basis of
UGC Regulations 2010 (based on merit, ability and seniority)
The court also directed the State
government to take all necessary steps for framing rules and regulations
and communicate it to all universities, which in turn should frame
guidelines for constitution of necessary committees within a reasonable
time.
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