6 days ago
Himachal High Court Limits State Role in University Appointments
The Himachal Pradesh government had changed the rules for choosing leaders of two agricultural universities.
These changes gave the state government a major role in selecting the vice-chancellors.
Some petitioners challenged those changes in court.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court said the changes did not follow national university rules.
It declared the 2025 amendment unconstitutional.
It also cancelled related rules issued in 2026.
The advertisements seeking candidates for both jobs were cancelled too.
A new selection process must now follow University Grants Commission rules.
The selection committee must include a nominee of the UGC chairman and may also include an ICAR nominee.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court struck down amendments giving the state government a decisive role in appointing agricultural university vice-chancellors.
The court ruled the 2025 amendment to the state universities law unconstitutional and inconsistent with UGC Regulations, 2018.
It invalidated Rules 2, 3 and 4 of the 2026 state rules as conflicting with UGC requirements.
The court quashed February 26, 2026 advertisements for vice-chancellor posts at two universities.
The state and chancellor must conduct fresh selections under UGC norms, including a UGC chairman nominee and, if required, an ICAR nominee.
- Who
- The Himachal Pradesh High Court, petitioners Narender Kumar Sankhyan and Sanjeev Kumar Chauhan, the state government, and the chancellor of the two universities.
- What
- The court struck down amendments and rules that gave the state government a decisive role in appointing vice-chancellors, and ordered fresh selections.
- Where
- Himachal Pradesh, involving Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya in Palampur and Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Nauni.
- When
- The judgment was delivered on Thursday; the challenged rules were notified on January 6, 2026, and the quashed advertisements were dated February 26, 2026.
- Why
- The court found the provisions beyond the state’s legislative competence and in conflict with the University Grants Commission Regulations, 2018.
State Role in Appointments
UGC-Governed Appointments
Who should guide the selection?
State Role in Appointments
The amended state law placed the vice-chancellor appointment process under the aid and advice of the state government.
UGC-Governed Appointments
The petitioners and the court maintained that the process must follow UGC Regulations, 2018, rather than being subordinated to state-government advice.
Validity of the 2025 amendment
State Role in Appointments
The state enacted the amendment and issued related rules governing the appointments.
UGC-Governed Appointments
The court held that the amendment was beyond the state’s legislative competence, unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the UGC Act and regulations.
Composition of the selection committee
State Role in Appointments
The state’s amended framework was used for the appointment process and advertisements issued on February 26, 2026.
UGC-Governed Appointments
The court required a new committee including a nominee of the UGC chairman, excluding persons connected with the university, and permitting an ICAR nominee if required.
Key facts
- Court
- Himachal Pradesh High Court
- Bench
- Justices Vivek Singh Thakur and Ranjan Sharma
- Petitions
- Filed by Narender Kumar Sankhyan and Sanjeev Kumar Chauhan
- Challenged amendment
- The 2025 amendment to Section 23(4) and Section 24 of the 1986 Act
- Invalidated rules
- Rules 2, 3 and 4 of the 2026 state rules
- Affected universities
- Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya and Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry
- Required next step
- A fresh vice-chancellor selection process strictly under UGC Regulations, 2018
Sources
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