HC reserves verdict on plea of KU VC

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 30:  The State High Court today reserved its verdict on the plea of Vice Chancellor Kashmir University for holding the post for five years in view of “The Kashmir and Jammu Universities (Amendment) Act, 2015”.
Justice D S Thakur reserved judgment after hearing the counsel appearing for the VC as also the counsels appearing on behalf of State and Chancellor of the University.
Present VC, Khursid Iqbal Andrabi, has approached the Court in view of action taken by the authorities for constitution of search committee for the post of VC. He submitted before the Court that he is entitled to continue as VC for five years in view of the amendment carried out in the Act of 2015.
The Search Committee has been constituted on the basis that the tenure of appointment of the petitioner-Andrabi is only three years. However, he has stated in detail the legal basis for establishing that he is entitled to continue as Vice Chancellor for five years.
Andrabi prays that he be declared as Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir and hold office of Vice Chancellor for “five years” having regard to “The Kashmir and Jammu Universities (Amendment) Act, 2015”.
He also prayed that the order of the Chancellor bearing   No: GS-14(Appt-VC)/KU/14/ 2011-16 dated 17.10.2014 in so far as it provides period of “three years” is of no legal consequence and the period shall be deemed to have been substituted under the aforesaid amendment to “five years”.
“That by writ of mandamus respondents be directed  to  allow  the petitioner  to continue as Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir for a period of “five years” with effect from the date he took charge of the office of Vice Chancellor”, read the petition.
It also said that the respondents be restrained to give effect to the instructions of the Chancellor (dated 08.09.2017) and it be quashed as it has been issued in contravention of the rights of the petitioner.
It may be mentioned here that the Court as interim relief to the present VC has directed the authorities that status quo with regard to the holding of post by VC be maintained till the final verdict of the case.

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