K.ANNAMALAI Vs. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed as Public Interest Litigation by alumnus of the Gandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed to be University), Gandhigramam, Dindigul District. The petitioner has sought for issuance of Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents 1 and 2 to appoint a new Vice Chancellor for the Institution after reconstituting the Board of Management by replacing the respondents 6 to 8 by suitable persons at the rank of Professor and then, to form a Search- cum-Selection Committee in order to sponsor five persons for selection of Vice Chancellor of the Institution.

(2.) Mr.R.Suriyanarayanan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is interested in the welfare of the respondent Institution and he also has keen interest in its development and only for that purpose, the present writ petition has been filed and at no point of time, the petitioner is attempting to interdict the selection process of the new Vice Chancellor.

(3.) It is submitted by the learned counsel that in terms of the Memorandum of Association and Rules of the Gandhigram Rural Institute, which was amended in accordance with UGC (Institution deemed to be University) Regulation, 2010 and its amendment in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and duly approved by UGC and Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India, stipulate the constitution of Board of Management. In this regard, the learned counsel has drawn the attention of this Court to Rule 7.0, which deals with Governance System. Referring to Rule 7.8, it is submitted that the Board of Management shall comprise (i) Vice Chancellor, who is the Chairperson, (ii) Two Deans of faculties (by rotation based on seniority), (iii) Three eminent academicians as nominated by Chancellor, (iv) One eminent academic to be nominated by UGC, (v) Two teachers (One from Professors, one from Associate Professors) by rotation based on seniority, (vi) One eminent academician to be nominated by MHRD, (vii) A representative of MHRD not below the rank of Director/DS.