VC selection: TN Gov Ravi asks govt to withdraw gazette notification of search-cum-selection committee

Also read: TN issues gazette notification with all but one nominated by Governor

The row 

On 6 September, Governor Ravi issued a notification in his capacity as chancellor of universities constituting three search-cum-selection committees to recommend three names each to the posts of vice-chancellors for the University of Madras, Bharathiar University (BU), and the Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University (TNTEU).

For Madras University, Ravi appointed Battu Satyanarayana, vice-chancellor of Central University of Karnataka, as the Chancellor’s nominee and the convener of the committee. K Deenabandu, a Member of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission was appointed as the university Syndicate’s nominee, and P Jagadeesan, former vice-chancellor of Bharathidasan University, as the Senate’s nominee.

Further, the Governor inducted HCS Rathore, former vice-chancellor of the Central University of South Bihar, as the UGC chairman’s nominee.

Questioning the Governor’s authority in appointing search-cum-selection committee members, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy said that the committees were unilaterally constituted. He termed the appointments illegal.

The minister also maintained that the universities in Tamil Nadu were governed by their laws and there was no mandate to include the UGC chairman’s nominee.

He further said that the government would legally face the notification issued by the Governor.

On 13 September, the principal secretary of the Higher Education Department, issued a gazette notification of a search committee, excluding the UGC chairman’s nominee, but retaining the other three members, as appointed earlier.

Also read: How Governor Ravi and DMK government have been at loggerheads

‘Void ab initio’

The Raj Bhavan issued a statement that the notification published on 13 September was void ab initio (the action that is void since its inception) since it contradicted the UGC regulations and the order of the Supreme Court.

“By an act of impropriety, the Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, has issued a further notification of a search-cum-selection committee by excluding the nominee of the UGC chairman, and the same is published in the Government Gazette on 13.09.2023, without adhering to the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and in violation of the same,” the Raj Bhavan noted

“The said notification published on 13.09.2023 is void ab initio, being contrary to the UGC Regulations and order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” it added.

Also read: TN government takes strong exception to comments by Governor

Raj Bhavan questions principal secretary’s role

Coming down heavily on the principal secretary, the Governor said that he had no role in the affairs of the universities and directed him to withdraw the gazette notification that excluded the UGC chairman’s nominee.

“The said publication in the Government gazette is without any such authority from the Chancellor, being the head of the University and that the Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, has no role in the affairs of the University and hence the Chancellor has called upon to withdraw the said Notification published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary”, the Governor’s communication stated.

However, higher education department sources told South First that the department would stand firm on its decision to drop the UGC chairman’s nominee.