By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

A collective of former Vice-Chancellors, academicians, and scientists have raised concerns with the Chief Justice of India over the selection process for the Vice-Chancellors of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Digital University Kerala.

In a letter, they alleged that the process deviated from established university governance norms and contradicted previous Supreme Court rulings.

The joint petition, signed by 16 distinguished persons, including former Indian Space Research Organisation chairperson G. Madhavan Nair and former diplomat T.P. Sreenivasan, criticised the completion of the search-cum-selection committees. They pointed out that the panels lacked a representative from the University Grants Commission (UGC), despite the apex court’s rulings that a UGC nominee must be included in such committees.

The letter also expressed concern over the current order, reportedly based on a precedent in a case involving universities in West Bengal. The directive appeared to grant an “all-pervasive” role to the State’s Chief Minister. They argued that this went beyond the legal framework provided by the university Act concerned and the UGC regulations.

Vacancies in varsities

The petition also highlighted the issue of political interference and litigation in higher education which, they claimed, was deterring eminent professionals from applying for Vice-Chancellor positions. Citing Kerala as an example, the group also stated that a high number of seats remained vacant in universities and several youths have been migrating to other States and countries.

The signatories also include former Vice-Chancellors including G. Gopakumar (Central University of Kerala), K.S. Radhakrishnan (Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit), A. Jayakrishnan and P.K. Radhakrishnan (Kerala University), M.K.C. Nair (Kerala University of Health Sciences), and M. Abdul Salam (Calicut University).