The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the Ministry of Human Resource Development in a plea challenging the appointment of the current Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University Chandra Krishnamoorthy. The petition has been filed by professor M Ramadass, a former member of parliament from Puducherry and currently the Director of Studies at the Central University.
Ramadass alleged that due process was not followed in the appointment of the search committee which was supposed to identify three fit candidates for the post to succeed outgoing vice-chancellor J A K Tareen.
The appointment of Chandra Krishnamoorthy on December 28, 2012, was arbitrary as it was not merit based. She lacked the experience of working in a Central University, which should have been an important parameter for selection.
The search committee selection of three fit names for the post was solely based on regional considerations. The plea said the petitioner, though he possessed all required qualifications, was overlooked.
Ramadass alleged that Chandra Krishnamoorthy influenced the committee through a recommendation letter from a Professor at IIT Kanpur. One of the search committee members, M Anandakrishnan, was the chairman of the Board of Governors at the institution. Ramadass claimed that the Minister of HRD, contrary to norms, chose to directly recommend the name of Chandra Krishnamoorthy for the post of Vice-Chancellor to the President from among the three names suggested by the committee. This was a complete violation.
He prayed the court to pass an interim injunction forbearing the Vice-Chancellor from taking administrative or long-term policy decisions till the disposal of the writ petition apart from asking her to show cause under what authority she was holding office.