Dr MAM Ramaswamy of RA Puram, the Pro-Chancellor of Annamalai University, has moved the Madras HC, challenging the Annamalai University Act 2013 issued by the Higher Education Secretary, which sought to remove the rights conferred on him.
His interim prayer was to restrain the authorities concerned from interfering with his right to enjoy the privileges under the Annamalai University Act 1929.
The first bench of acting Chief Justice R K Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, before which the writ petition came up for hearing on Thursday, ordered notice to the authorities concerned, returnable by November 11.
According to the petitioner, he was appointed Pro-Chancellor of the University by the Chancellor as he was an adult male member from the founder’s family in accordance with the Annamalai University Act 1929. The 2013 Act was issued to besmirch his reputation without providing him any opportunity to defend the same, thereby violating his right to life and personal liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The petitioner contended that due to change in public policies and the implementation of revision of pay scales as per the recommendations of the VI Pay Commission, the expenditure of the University had increased.