Government seeks cancellation of temporary VC appointment: Petition in Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will examine the action of Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who reappointed Dr. K. Sivaprasad as interim VC in the Technical University and Dr. Ciza Thomas as interim VC in the Digital University. The petition filed by the state government seeking cancellation of the re-appointment notifications will come before the court. The stand taken by the court will be decisive. The issue is being considered by a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan.

The government's petition states that the reappointment notifications are made without considering the essence of the Supreme Court's order issued on July 30. There was a specific instruction that the appointment of the temporary VC should be as per the provisions of the Technical and Digital Universities Act. Therefore, the appointment should be from the panel provided by the government, it was pointed out.

The court had last time made it clear that the governor and the government should move in harmony and cooperation, and that it would not be tolerated if politics were involved. This matter is also being considered by the same bench that set a deadline for the President and Governors to take a decision on bills passed and sent to the Assembly.

Court order not followed

• The government's petition states that the panel containing the names of three people eligible as per the UGC criteria was handed over to the Governor's Additional Chief Secretary on August 1.

• However, the Governor's Secretariat unilaterally issued the reappointment notification without complying with the Supreme Court order.

• The government is making all sincere efforts to appoint a permanent VC.

Governor to clarify

The Governor may argue that the Supreme Court order had given permission to appoint the current VCs. The Governor may also inform that there is no lapse on his part in agreeing with the government.