The University Grants Commission (UGC) with respect to the formation of the Search Committee for the appointment of the University's Vice-Chancellor post
In a letter addressed to the office of the governor, Arun Sawant, Former Pro-VC at the University of Mumbai has alleged that the state government and the office of the governor are not following the norms laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with respect to the formation of the Search Committee for the appointment of the University's Vice-Chancellor post.
In his four-page letter, Sawant has objected to the appointment of Dr K Kasturirangan, former Chief of ISRO as the chairperson of the search committee.
"I am surprised your office has not bothered to check the constitutional validity of process of appointing VC. Wrong rules are set out again in Maharashtra Public University Act to appoint University VC.
Now, as many times before, appointing an eminent scientist as chairman of the Search Committee for selecting VC of Mumbai University is absolutely wrong. No doubt he is an expert in Space Science but is not a distinguished "academician" as set out in UGC Regulations," states the letter citing the 2009 UGC guidelines.
Criticising the provisions of the Maharashtra Public University Act of 2016, as per which the retired Judge of the Supreme Court or retired Chief Justice of a High Court or an eminent scholar can be a member of the committee, Sawant said that "a judge or an eminent scholar is not suitable for making appointments to the post of VC.
The state government cannot form its own rules for VC appointment when a set of rules made by the apex body — UGC — already exists.
On October 25, the Governor of Maharashtra Ch Vidyasagar Rao constituted a Search Committee, under the chairmanship of Dr K Kasturirangan, for the appointment of the VC at University of Mumbai, days after Dr Sanjay Deshmukh was removed from his post for the unprecedented result mess.
THE APPOINTMENT
- On October 25, the Governor of Maharashtra Ch Vidyasagar Rao constituted a Search Committee, under the chairmanship of Dr K Kasturirangan, for the appointment of the VC, days after Dr Sanjay Deshmukh was removed from his post for the result mess.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Arun Sawant")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}