Shimla: Himachal Pradesh governor Kavinder Gupta has constituted search-cum-selection committees to recommend panels of three to five candidates for vice-chancellor posts at Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, and Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni.The governor is the ex-officio chancellor of the two varsities.Both three-member committees will be chaired by Sandeep Bhardwaj, secretary to the governor. They will frame the selection procedure in accordance with the Himachal Pradesh high court’s judgment, UGC Regulations 2018, and relevant provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986.Meetings may be held physically, virtually or in hybrid mode.On Aug 27, the high court struck down key provisions of the state law and rules that gave the state govt a significant role in appointing VCs to the two universities, ruling them contrary to UGC regulations. It directed the govt and chancellor to initiate fresh selection proceedings expeditiously, in accordance with the regulations on eligibility criteria and committee composition.The appointments have remained contentious amid litigation and a tussle between the state govt and Lok Bhawan.The Palampur university has been without a permanent VC since H K Chaudhary’s superannuation in Aug 2023, with four acting VCs serving since then. At Nauni, the permanent VC post has been vacant since May this year, with Harminder Singh Baweja holding additional charge.
