HPU power tussle: Himachal High Court stays Chancellor’s order assigning VC duties to other officials

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has stayed the operation of an order assigning the duties of the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) Vice-Chancellor, during his foreign tour, to Dean of Studies Prof BK Shivram and Registrar Jyoti Rana instead of Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajinder Verma, who continues to hold office despite the completion of his three-year tenure.

Justice Sandeep Sharma passed the interim order on Oct 9 while hearing a petition filed by Prof Verma. The order was made available on Oct 11.

The petitioner challenged the university Chancellor’s decision to assign the Vice-Chancellor’s responsibilities to other officials, arguing that he remained the Pro Vice-Chancellor because no successor had been appointed after his tenure expired.

The court noted that Prof Verma had been appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor for a three-year term through an office order dated June 3, 2023, and assumed charge on June 7, 2023.

His tenure ended on June 6, 2026. However, the court observed that, under the proviso to Section 12-D(2) of the Himachal Pradesh University Act, he continued to hold the office as no successor had been appointed.

The High Court also pointed out that the university was not following the notifications issued on June 7, 2023, which required matters to be routed through the Pro Vice-Chancellor before being placed before the Vice-Chancellor.

Despite continuing to hold office, Prof Verma was not being invited to meetings of the university’s statutory bodies and authorities, the court observed.

The court held that the Act contained no provision prohibiting a Pro Vice-Chancellor who continued to hold office from discharging the duties attached to the post.

It further observed that the Vice-Chancellor’s duties could not have been assigned to the Dean of Studies and the Registrar under Section 12-D(2) of the Act while Prof Verma continued to hold the position.

In its interim order, the High Court directed that the disputed office order remain in abeyance until the next hearing. It also ordered that Prof Verma continue performing the duties of Pro Vice-Chancellor in the same manner as he had been doing before the expiry of his tenure.

The court granted the university two weeks to file its reply to the petition. It also clarified that the interim order would not prevent the university from initiating the process of appointing a Pro Vice-Chancellor in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

The matter is scheduled to be heard next on Nov 4.