The Madras High Court on Thursday gave its nod for the conduct of Anna University’s convocation that is scheduled for Friday, despite the absence of a regular Vice-Chancellor.
“This court is of the view that the convocation can be conducted as concerted by the Chancellor [the Governor] on Friday,” Justice M. Govindaraj said on Thursday.
When the petition filed by the Anna University Teachers Association (AUTA) came up for hearing before the vacation judge, he said that there was nothing in the statute to substantiate the arguments advanced by counsel for the petitioner that only an academician should hold the post of the Vice-Chancellor.
The Syndicate Committee is conferred with the powers of administrative functions to conduct the convocation with any one of the officers of the university, the judge said, dismissing the petition from the AUTA, represented by its president I. Arul Aram, which sought to quash a resolution adopted by the Syndicate of the Anna University on March 3 last to conduct the convocation on May 19 as illegal.
Under the AU Act, it is the V-C who shall perform the functions, including the convocation. Or else, the Higher Education Secretary can be requested to perform the functions during the tenure of the V-C. But, it does not mean that even after the V-C’s term expires and a Search Committee has been constituted to select a new V-C, the Secretary can perform the functions of the V-C. Before the expiry of the tenure of the V-C, a new one should have been appointed, who alone can confer degrees on the students at the convocation, the petitioner contended.
Notice ordered
In another matter seeking for a direction to the State government to fill up the posts of V-Cs of Anna University, Madras University and Madurai Kamaraj University, the Vacation Bench comprising Justices R. Mahadevan and M. Govindaraj ordered notice returnable in two weeks.
When the writ petition from A. Narayanan, director of Change India, came up for hearing, Government Pleader M.K. Subramanian took notice for the Chief Secretary and the Secretary, Higher Education.
The petitioner had prayed for a direction to the authorities concerned to immediately bring out specific enforceable norms to fix a time frame to complete the process of appointment of V-Cs, so that there is no discontinuity or disruption in the effective functioning of the universities and the interest of the student community and higher education is protected.
He had had also submitted a representation to the current Chancellor of State Universities (Governor-in-charge) on August 27, 2016 pointing out the inordinate delay in the appointment of V-Cs for the three universities.
The authorities concerned continue to overlook the pre-eminence and the importance of the office of the V-Cs and their roles in guiding and mentoring the university towards excellence in learning. The whole office of V-Cs stands denigrated now with negative connotations, the petitioner submitted.