HC annuls Kerala University’s selection committee for Assistant Professors citing violation of UGC Regulations

The Kerala High Court has set aside the formation of a selection committee by Kerala University for the appointment of Assistant Professors on contract basis, citing a breach of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms in its constitution.

Justice N. Nagaresh issued the order on February 3 after considering a plea filed by Syndicate member P.S. Gopakumar. The court found the composition of the panel by the Standing Committee of the Syndicate on Staff, Equipment, and Buildings to be at odds with the UGC Regulations.

The court observed that the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and other Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2018, clearly outline the required composition for the selection committees tasked with appointing Assistant Professors.

The committees must be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor or his/her nominee, and should include, among others, an academic nominated by the Chancellor, three subject experts, the Dean of the faculty concerned, and the Head of the Department.

Inconsistent

However, the university had formed a committee consisting of the convener of the Syndicate Standing Committee, the Registrar, the Head of the Department, and subject experts, which the court ruled was inconsistent with the UGC guidelines.

The university faced controversy when it was speculated that Syndicate member J.S. Shijukhan, the convener of the Standing Committee, had been appointed to chair the panel. This sparked debate, prompting the university to issue a statement denying the allegations.

Nonetheless, the High Court ruling has dealt a setback to the university, which now faces delay in its efforts to appoint 16 Assistant Professors on contract basis to handle courses under the four-year undergraduate programme in 15 subjects.

Vice-Chancellor in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal, who had earlier expressed reservations over the constitution of the selection committee, had kept the Syndicate decision in abeyance until the case was considered by the court.