HC stays varsity order discontinuing service of law prof

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed an order issued by the Central University of Haryana (CUH) discontinuing the services of Monika Malik, a professor in the law department of the university.

Her services were discontinued on the grounds that her selection process allegedly violated procedural and regulatory norms. The order shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing, scheduled for August 2.

The university, in its May 7 order referencing a previous high court judgment, said it had provided the professor with an opportunity to be heard before the Vice-Chancellor/ the Executive Council (EC), in reply to their show-cause notices. The EC, in its 62nd meeting held on May 2, resolved that the selection process was not in accordance with regulations, and that eligibility criteria had not been applied uniformly or lawfully across candidates.

A CUH faculty member said Malik was appointed as an associate professor at CUH in December 2019 after a formal selection process. Prior to that, she served as an assistant professor at Kurukshetra University.

“After issuing the May 7 order, CUH authorities informed Kurukshetra University about Monika’s termination. As per regulations, any regular faculty member has the right to hold a lien on their previous post for five years after moving to another university. Malik’s lien period was to end in December 2024. However, the same was extended up to June 27, 2025, in view of a high court order,” he said.

The faculty member added that, in response to CUH’s communication, Kurukshetra University directed Malik to rejoin her former post by July 27, failing which necessary disciplinary action would be initiated against her.

This issue was also raised in the petition filed before the high court challenging CUH’s termination order, he added.

CUH Vice-Chancellor Tankeshwar Kumar confirmed that the May 7 order had been withdrawn in compliance with the high court’s directive.