'Sluggish Pace With No Transparency': Students & Alumni Of NLU-D Write To Chancellor, Justice DN Patel Seeking To Expedite Selection Of New VC [Read Letter]

The letter, signed by 122 students and alumni, highlights the "opaque" and "sluggish approach" adopted by the Selection Committee, in the matter of appointment.

"Despite multiple attempts by the student body to engage with the Selection Committee, they have been kept in the dark about the entire process. Despite the passage of over 9 months since its constitution, there is still no timeline regarding the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor," the letter states.

Given that tenure of the present VC, Prof. (Dr.) Ranbir Singh, is set to expire on September 23, 2020, applications for filling the prospective vacancy were invited in November last year. The students allege that the Selection Committee has adopted a "snail-paced process" and there is no substantial progress in the matter of appointment till date.

It is submitted that this "avoidable delay" in the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor comes at a crucial stage as the institution is faced with multiple decisions involving the interests of the students.

"Besides formulating the new academic calendar in light of the pandemic, the institution is also faced with key decisions pertaining to the award of course degrees to the graduating Batch of 2020, fee waivers (owing to distance education), smooth conduct of All India Law Entrance Examination (AILET), etc. The administrative delay in the Vice-Chancellor's appointment is likely to adversely affect the above-mentioned issues," the students and alumni apprehend.

They have therefore urged the Judges to (in their capacity as the Chancellor and Visitor respectively) to convene a Governing Council meeting on this issue, as soon as possible.

On a related note, the procedure adopted by the selection committee for making appointment to the post of Vice Chancellor was challenge before the Delhi High Court by one of the applicants. Disposing of the petition, the High Court had directed the University Registrar to place the procedure for consideration before the Chancellor.

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