Archive · 2 Jan 2026
HC Rules 'Amongst Senior Faculty' Not Senior-Most
The Himachal Pradesh High Court said that the phrase 'amongst the senior faculty members' does not mean the most senior faculty member.
They made this decision while looking at a case about the appointment of a temporary Vice-Chancellor at a university.
The court said the Chancellor has the power to choose any senior faculty member for this role, and there was nothing wrong with the decision to appoint Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda.
The court based its decision on a law from 1986 that gives the Chancellor this discretion.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court ruled that 'amongst the senior faculty members' does not mean the senior-most faculty member.
The ruling came while dismissing a petition challenging the appointment of Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda as officiating Vice-Chancellor at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur.
The court held that Section 24(5) of the Himachal Pradesh University of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986 gives the Chancellor discretion to appoint any senior faculty member as officiating V-C during a temporary vacancy.
The court found no legal infirmity or arbitrariness in the Chancellor's decision to appoint Dr. Panda.
The petitioner argued that the phrase 'amongst the senior faculty members' should be interpreted to mean the senior-most faculty member, but the court disagreed.
- Who
- Himachal Pradesh High Court
- What
- Ruling on the interpretation of 'amongst the senior faculty members'
- When
- Not specified
- Where
- Himachal Pradesh, India
- Why
- To clarify the meaning of the phrase in the context of appointing an officiating Vice-Chancellor
- Court
- Himachal Pradesh High Court
- Petition
- Challenging appointment of officiating Vice-Chancellor
- University
- CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur
- Appointee
- Dr Ashok Kumar Panda
- Act
- Himachal Pradesh University of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986