Action stayed against ex-VC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed further action following chargesheet issued against Dr Vinod Kumar Verma, former Vice-Chancellor of Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar.

“In the meanwhile, further action pursuant to the impugned chargesheets dated October 16, 2024, and November 21, 2024, shall remain stayed,” Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya asserted. The case will now come up for further hearing on February 6.

Appearing on Dr Verma’s behalf, counsel Sardavinder Goyal contended that the petitioner was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the respondent-university on January 20, 2022. He demitted office on August 22, 2024, after his appointment was set aside by the high court.

He added that the Additional Chief Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department, was given the Vice-Chancellor’s charge. He chargesheeted the petitioner on unfounded and baseless grounds. Besides, the respondent was not competent to issue the chargesheets.

“The charges pertain to the alleged misconduct by the petitioner while working as Vice-Chancellor between January 21, 2022, and August 22, 2024. In terms of Section 13 of the University Act, the competent authority to appoint the Vice-Chancellor is the Board of Management of the University. Accordingly, any disciplinary action against him can only be taken by the board and not by the Vice-Chancellor. Besides, one of the allegations/charges against the petitioner is that he did not follow the directions issued by the respondent passed by him in his capacity as Additional Chief Secretary. Apparently, the respondent is himself an interested party in the matter and could not have issued the chargesheets,” it was added.