‘Include UGC Chairman’s nominee in V-C search panel for sports university’

‘Include UGC Chairman’s nominee in V-C search panel for sports university’

R.N. Ravi

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 12.03.2025

Governor R.N. Ravi has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to notify the search committee for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, “as constituted by the Chancellor”, which included the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman’s nominee, the Raj Bhavan said on Tuesday.

Though the Chancellor had, in October 2024, directed the State government to notify the constitution of the committee with four members, including the UGC Chairman’s nominee, the G.O. issued by the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department on January 28, 2025 “purposefully excluded the UGC Chairman’s nominee, in violation of the judgments of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India”, the Raj Bhavan said.

The notifications issued by the State government was contrary to the existing UGC regulations and orders of the Supreme Court, it said.

The Chancellor had urged the Government of Tamil Nadu to recall the said notifications, the Raj Bhavan said.

It pointed out that the Supreme Court had held in Prof. (Dr.) Sreejith P.S. vs. Dr. Rajasree M.S. & others that any appointment as Vice-Chancellor made on the recommendation of the search committee, which was constituted contrary to the provisions of the UGC regulations, shall be void ab initio.

The search committee constituted by the Chancellor was as per the provisions of Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University Act as well as UGC regulations, 2018, it pointed out.

“The inclusion of UGC Chairman’s nominee in the Search Committee of State Universities is held to be mandatory by the Supreme Court,” it said.