Madras High Court Issues Notice On PIL Seeking UGC Intervention For Appointment Of Vice-Chancellors In Tamil Nadu Universities

The Madras High Court, on Wednesday (July 8), issued notice on a public interest litigation seeking directions to the University Grants Commission to appoint Vice Chancellors in around 20 government-run universities in the state of Tamil Nadu. The bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan issued notice to the State government and directed that the matter be posted along with another plea challenging the amendments brought in by the Tamil Nadu government, taking away the Governor's power to appoint Vice Chancellors to State-run universities. When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, Senior Advocate NL Rajah submitted that while the matter could be heard along with the pending plea, it should not be tagged, and it should be kept as a separate plea itself, as it sought direction to the UGC to exercise its powers and ensure compliance with the UGC Act. Rajah pointed out that even if the court passed any orders on the pending plea, there was every probability that it would be taken on appeal to the Supreme Court, and the vacuum regarding the absence of Vice Chancellors would continue, affecting education itself. “Politics shouldn't affect the future of the youth”, Rajah argued. To this, the court said that the matter would be considered and the notice would first be issued, as the procedure mandates. “After all it's about education. It is paramount,” the bench orally remarked. The bench also asked the State to include in its reply the details sought for by the petitioner - a comprehensive status report pertaining to the future road map for all State Universities in TN under the Department of Higher Education. The plea has been filed by P Bhaskar, a cable TV operator from Guduvancheri, Chengalpattu District. In his plea, Bhaskar submitted that the case was filed only considering the betterment of the quality of education in Tamil Nadu. Bhaskar submitted that the previous government had adopted a condemnable, high-handed, confrontational approach with the then Governor that created numerous policy clashes, stumbling blocks and choke points, in which the students and academic excellence suffered. Bhaskar submitted that of the 20 universities in Tamil Nadu, Vice Chancellors had not been appointed in more than 15 universities, and in the remaining 5 universities, Vice Chancellors were retiring by the end of 2026. He pointed out that there was an alarming situation and it was a shocking and unprecedented development in a large state like Tamil Nadu. The petitioner also submitted that considering the alarming state of affairs, the court could take an approach similar to that taken by the Supreme Court in the West Bengal Universities Case, wherein the court had appointed a panel comprising of retired judges to oversee the appointment of the Vice Chancellors. The petitioner urged the court to appoint a High-Powered Panel to oversee the Search and Selection Committee for the appointment of the Vice Chancellors, and ensure that the entire process is completed within a reasonable time frame fixed by the court. Case Title: P Bhaskar v The Chairman and Others Case No: WP 24846 of 2026

Madras High Court Issues Notice On PIL Seeking UGC Intervention For Appointment Of Vice-Chancellors In Tamil Nadu Universities

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Madras High Court Issues Notice On PIL Seeking UGC Intervention For Appointment Of Vice-Chancellors In Tamil Nadu Universities

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