Agriculture education comes under state list, UGC rules are not applicable; former KUFOS VC approaches Supreme court

NEW DELHI: KUFOS former vice chancellor Dr. K Riji John has approached the Supreme Court against the High Court's order cancelling his appointment. The appeal states the UGC rules on VC appointments do not apply to agriculture universities in the state and added that agriculture education comes under the state list.

The appointment of K Riji John was revoked by the High Court Division Bench on November 14. The High Court agreed to the petitioner’s argument that the VC appointment was not in accordance with the UGC rules. The verdict was by a division bench comprising the Chief Justice.

Ernakulam native Dr KK Vijayan, who was on the VC appointment rank list, approached the High court against Riji John’s appointment alleging that he did not have enough qualifications. As per UGC norms ten years working experience as a professor in a university is required to become VC. But the petitioner argued that Riji John did not have this.