HC to Haryana: Accept sports varsity VC’s resignation, appoint successor by Oct 31

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed Haryana govt to accept the resignation of Sports University of Haryana vice-chancellor Ashok Kumar within one week of its submission and complete the process for appointment of his successor by Oct 31. Kumar is a retired DGP of Uttarakhand.The direction came after the counsel appearing for Kumar told the court that he was “not in a position to continue as vice-chancellor of the university due to personal reasons” and undertook that he would submit his resignation within three weeks and hand over charge forthwith.Justice Harpreet Singh Brar passed the order while disposing of a petition filed by Dr DS Mor and Raghubir Singh Gahlawat, challenging Kumar’s appointment.The petitioners, through counsels Shreenath A Khemka and Devraj Asati, had sought a writ of quo warranto declaring Kumar’s appointment “illegal and void ab initio”, alleging violation of the UGC Regulations, 2018. They had also challenged Haryana govt’s July 15, 2024 order relating to fixation of Kumar’s pay and sought an order restraining him from drawing a salary of Rs 2.25 lakh minus pension and allowances.According to the petition, the state govt had initially created the post of vice-chancellor in April 2023 with a pay of Rs 2.1 lakh and a special allowance of Rs 5,000 per month. After the resignation of the then vice-chancellor, S S Deswal, the govt appointed Kumar as vice-chancellor on Feb 26, 2024, for the remaining period of three years, according to the petition.The petitioners alleged that Kumar did not fulfil the eligibility requirement under Regulation 7.3 of the UGC Regulations, 2018, which, according to the petition, requires a distinguished academician with a minimum of 10 years experience as professor in a university system, or 10 years’ experience in an equivalent position in a reputed research and/or academic administrative organisation.The petition also referred to an April 23, 2024, communication by the UGC through which the university was included in the list of universities maintained under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956, and stated that the university was directed to follow the UGC Regulations notified from time to time.The petitioners had also approached the chancellor-cum-governor of Haryana through a representation dated July 10, 2024, seeking termination of Kumar’s appointment on the grounds of alleged lack of eligibility and experience.The high court, however, disposed of the petition after Kumar’s counsel made the statement regarding his resignation.“In the wake of the statement made by learned counsel for respondent No.3 (Ashok Kumar), the present petition is disposed of and the State Government is directed to accept the resignation of respondent No.3 within a period of one week from the date of its submission,” the bench said.The HC directed that during the interim period, the state govt follow the procedure contemplated under Rule 2 of the university’s statutes, “particularly the proviso to Rule 2 dealing with the vacancy in the office of vice-chancellor on account of resignation,” and appoint the senior-most dean to discharge the duties of vice-chancellor until a fresh appointment is made.The HC also directed the state govt to ensure that the appointment of the next vice-chancellor is made “in strict compliance and adherence to the UGC Regulations, 2018”, keeping in view the Supreme Court judgment in Dr S Mohan versus secretary to the Chancellor, Puducherry Technological University, Puducherry and others.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chandigarh | Silver Rate in Chandigarh | Bank Holidays in Chandigarh | Public Holidays in Chandigarh | Chandigarh AQI | Weather in Chandigarh | Petrol Price in Chandigarh | Diesel Price in Chandigarh | CNG Price in Chandigarh | LPG Price in ChandigarhStay updated with the latest Chandigarh news. Download the TOI App.