HRD Ministry Seeks Legal Advice on UGC Acting Head

The HRD Ministry is in dilemma pertaining to the appointment of Acting Chairperson to the University Grants Commission (UGC). Therefore, the ministry has sought an informal legal advice on whom to appoint as the Acting Chairperson, following Mr. Ved Prakash's retirement as the Chairperson of UGC on April 3, 2017. The HRD Ministry has failed to appoint the Chairperson since then, and Mr. V S Chauhan has been holding the office as officiating head.

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According to the guidelines, an officiating head or Acting Chairperson cannot hold the office for more than six months. The six-month term of Mr. V S Chauhan will end on October 4, 2017. Usually, Vice-Chairman takes charge as Chairman, in case of a casual vacancy. However, the post of Vice-Chairman is also lying vacant, and HRD Ministry has no idea on whom to appoint as the Acting Chairperson.

It has been six months since Mr. Ved Prakash retired as the Chairperson of UGC, and HRD Ministry is still mulling over the appointment of new Chairperson.

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Earlier, the ministry had constituted a Selection cum Search Committee (SCSC) to suggest names for the appointment of a new Chairperson to UGC. Even though the SCSC suggested five names for the post, HRD Ministry has failed to forward the shortlist to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for the final approval and appointment.

The following are some of the names suggested by SCSC to HRD Ministry for the appointment of the post of Chairperson to UGC: -

• Mr. ADN Bajpai, former Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University
• Mr. D.P. Singh, Chairman of NAAC

According to sources, the HRD Ministry is expected to take a final decision regarding the appointment by the end of first week of October 2017.