Concerned about search committee order: Academic experts, former VCs write to the chief justice

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Vice Chancellors and academic experts wrote to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court expressing concern over the formation of a search committee for the appointment of VCs in digital and technical universities without a UGC representative. The letter called out the new decision as a breach of the previous Supreme Court order and university regulations.

The search committee is chaired by a retired judge appointed by the Supreme Court. The committee has two representatives, one from the Chancellor and the government. There are previous Supreme Court orders that a UGC representative is mandatory in the search committee. Giving excessive power to the Chief Minister in the appointment of the VC is against the UGC rules and state laws.

More than half of the seats in universities are vacant due to political interference. A large number of students are flying abroad and to other states in India for studies. There are also allegations that relatives of politicians are easily acquiring appointments and doctorates from universities. The letter also states that the intervention of the Chief Justice is essential to ensure that court orders in academic matters stay in line with academic standards. The Governor has filed a clarification petition against this order of the Supreme Court.

Former ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair, former Central University Vice Chancellor G. Gopakumar, former PSC Chairman and Sanskrit University Vice Chancellor K. S. Radhakrishnan, former Kerala University Vice Chancellors A. Jayakrishnan and P. K. Radhakrishnan, former Health University Vice Chancellor M. K. C. Nair, former Vice Chancellors M. Abdul Salam and S. Bijoy, former Central University Vice Chancellor K. Jayaprasad, former UGC member G. Karunakaran Pillai, and K. N. Madhusudhanan Pillai, who was a consultant to NAAC, signed the letter along with 16 academic experts.