Madras HC sets aside appointment of Madurai Kamaraj University VC

Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar on holding that in a three-member committee, when two out of the three members speak against the third member, who is also the convenor, it cannot be brushed aside lightly, said, “We consider it necessary to take a view that the Search Committee has to be constituted afresh and the process of selection has to be redone.” 

Allowing the petitions moved by Traffic Ramaswamy and M Lionel Antony Raj, challenging the appointment of Dr Chellathurai, the bench in its order held, “One aspect of the case emerges very clearly/indisputably, and that aspect is, all was not well as amongst members of the Search Committee. Two out of the three members (a majority of 2:1) allege that there was no meaningful deliberation or discussion qua selection/evaluation.” “Further to be noted, these two members categorically allege high-handed approach on the part of the Convenor and it is their specific allegation that the name of the appointee was thrust upon the Search Committee on the ground that he is a Government’s nominee,” the bench added.

As per the case, one member of the Search Committee i.e., Dr.Mu.Ramaswamy resigned citing high-handed approach of the Convenor Dr. C Murukadas necessitating reconstitution of the Search Committee.

However, the two members in the reconstituted search committee-Dr. Harish L Mehta (syndicate nominee) and Prof Mu Ramaswamy (senate nominee) had submitted in an affidavit that out of the total six meetings held, the first four meetings merely dealt with the process of advertisements, calling for applications and taking decisions regarding the way the evaluation shall be done, while the fifth meeting was abandoned.

In the sixth meeting, which lasted for a mere 25 minutes in a hotel near Raj Bhavan, the convenor thrust the name of the appointee in the three names panel and proceeded to the Raj Bhavan to hand over the same. Therefore, there was virtually no meeting as on June 19, 2017 when the names were handed over. The members had also submitted that the appointee does not possess necessary qualification and has a criminal case pending against him.