Governor’s Sectt extends date to apply for two posts of VC

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 14

The confrontation between the Raj Bhawan and the state government over the appointment of the Vice-Chancellors of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni in Solan district, and CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur, escalated today after Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said that in his capacity as Chancellor, he was the sole competent authority to initiate the selection process.

The state government had on August 11 withdrawn an advertisement inviting applications for the two posts of Vice-Chancellor issued by the Governor’s secretariat. However, the Governor’s secretariat today issued a notification extending the date to apply for the two posts to August 18. “To my utter surprise and dismay, I received a letter from the Secretary (Agriculture) on August 11 that the advertisement issued by my office inviting applications for the two posts of Vice-Chancellor had been withdrawn and any further action by the Raj Bhawan would be treated as null and void,” the notification signed by the Governor read.

The relations between the Raj Bhawan and the state government have not been cordial, as evinced by the lack of consensus on the issue of the appointment of Vice-Chancellors. The issue of some Bills passed by the Vidhan Sabha not being granted assent by the Governor has also been a sore point.

On September 21, 2023, the Assembly had passed the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Bill, 2023, but the Governor was yet to grant assent to it. Shukla had returned the Draft Bill with some observations. The Cabinet had on July 29 decided to enact a new law in this regard in the forthcoming monsoon session and withdrew the advertisement inviting applications for the two posts of Vice-Chancellor issued by the Governor’s secretariat.

“The action of the Secretary (Agriculture) to withdraw the advertisement is patently illegal and unconstitutional and he cannot withdraw it even if the Council of Ministers decides otherwise,” the notification read. The notification mentioned that the August 11 notification for the withdrawal of the advertisement had been set aside in larger public interest and the July 21 notification inviting applications for the two posts stands restored.

Today’s notification also stated that the Governor had acted in accordance with the statutory powers vested in him under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh University of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986. The Governor’s Secretariat had on May 15 and June 21 issued notifications for the constitution of a Selection Committee for the appointment of the two Vice-Chancellors. On July 21, the Governor’s Secretariat had issued an advertisement inviting applications for the two posts till August 12.