UGC cancels list of principals that included favorites; tribunal orders appointment from list that meets criteria

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Administrative Tribunal has quashed the government list of Arts and Science College Principals who did not meet the criteria and violated the UGC rules. It also directed that appointments be made from the list of 110 people selected in 2022 in compliance with the UGC rules. The order was made by the tribunal comprising Justice P. V. Asha and member P.K. Kesavan.

The search committee appointed only 36 out of the 110 applicants selected in 2022 as per the UGC rules. A few more were appointed when the rest obtained a favourable order from the tribunal. In the meantime, the UGC rules were relaxed to bring back the preferred candidates and some were selected through the search committee. The tribunal cancelled the government's current list when those who were selected in 2022 approached against this again.

According to the UGC rules, only those who had presented their dissertations in the UGC Care List or similar reviews were considered for the post of Principal. Contrary to this, the government had relaxed the rules to consider even those who had written dissertations in college magazines. Deputation was considered only for teaching according to the UGC rules. There was a relaxation that those who had worked on deputation in other fields could also be included in the consideration of Principals. The list was cancelled on the basis of this. Adv. M. Fathuddin appeared for the petitioners.