The HRD Ministry is learnt to have sought informal legal advice on who should act as the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman. This is in the wake of the six-month delay in appointing a full-time chief. Ved Prakash retired as the UGC chairman on April 3. After this Commission member V S Chauhan has been the officiating head.
WHAT ARE THE RULES
As per UGC Act, 1956, the vice-chairman takes charge as chairman in case of a “casual vacancy”. Since the vice-chairman’s post is also vacant, the law provides that the government can “appoint any other member to act as the Chairman, and the person so appointed shall not hold the office of Chairman for a period exceeding six months.”
Going by this provision, Chauhan cannot officiate as the Commission’s head beyond October 4.
WHY THE DELAY
The search-cum-selection committee (SCSC) led by yoga therapist H R Nagendra had sent a panel of five names for the post — NAAC chairman D P Singh, former vice-chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University A D N Bajpai, and Prof A K Singh of IGNOU among them. But the HRD ministry has not forwarded the shortlist to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for the final appointment. The SCSC also has former Lucknow University vice-chancellor D P Singh and former head of Saurashtra University K P Joshipura as members.
WHAT NEXT
The October 4 deadline is over and with the ministry late to Act since it cannot decide who should take charge beyond six months. Thus now the ministry is learnt to have sought an “informal legal opinion” on who it should appoint as the acting chairman until it finds Chauhan’s successor. According to sources, the ministry will have to take a call this week.
