Blow to state govt as High Court nixes VC appointments

Hyderabad: In a setback to the state government, the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday declared "illegal and unconstitutional" tweaking of the eligibility norms for vice-chancellors and cancelled those appointments of VCs that are not in tune with the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.
The court also questioned the manner in which the state tried to arrogate to itself the power to appoint chancellors to universities and made it clear that it will not allow the government to violate the norms stipulated by the UGC in 2010 for VC appointments.
The bench of acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice A V Sesha Sai pronounced its judgement in two separate public interest petitions filed by Osmania University retired professor D Manohar Rao, who challenged the action of the state in removing governor from being the chancellor of all universities, bestowing upon itself the power to appoint chancellors and disregarding the UGC regulations for making VC appointments by tweaking the eligibility criteria. He also raised a point that the state has laid no qualification for chancellors. Nor did it prescribe any procedure to disqualify or remove a chancellor if he is found to be unfit for the post after his appointment.
"We hold that the vesting of power of appointment of chancellors and vice-chancellors with government is illegal and unconstitutional," said Justice A V Sesha Sai who wrote the order for the bench. The bench declared as illegal and contrary to the AP Reorganisation Act the four GOs issued by the state for this purpose.