Notice to Chief Secy, UGC

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, April 27

The state High Court today issued a notice to Prof ADN Bajpai, Vice-Chancellor of HP University, the Chief Secretary and the University Grants Commission (UGC). A petition had been filed in the court challenging the appointment of HPU VC.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary and Justice CB Barowalia passed this order on a petition filed by two advocates Virender Thakur and Surender Verma alleging that the HPU Vice-Chancellor was not eligible for the post of VC initially when he was appointed on May 24, 2011, and was still not eligible for the post. They further alleged in the petition that Prof ADN Bajpai had applied for the post of VC and he made an application to the Chancellor of the university for the post of VC where in he had stated nothing about any inquiry pending or culminated against him, nor had he stated anywhere that while serving as Vice-Chancellor of Awadhesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, he was dismissed by the Chancellor of the university.

It was further contended that as per the regulations of the UGC, there would be a search committee for the appointment of VC and after considering the material placed before it the committee would recommend the name for the post of VC. It was further alleged that Prof Bajpai had withheld the material and relevant information deliberately by not mentioning the same in his application that he was dismissed from the post of VC of Awadhesh Pratap Singh University at Rewa in MP. The petitioners further alleged that Prof Bajpai was guilty of withholding the relevant information.

Terming the appointment of the VC as illegal, the petitioners urged the court that he might be removed from the post of VC. Apart from this, the petitioners also alleged that during his tenure as VC, Prof Bajpai had used his powers on some occasions on his own and on other occasions through the Executive Council of HPU and which decision caused huge losses to the already fund-starved HPU.