SC questions criteria to select AMU VC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took exception to the submission of Aligarh Muslim University that an eminent person can be appointed its vice-chancellor, saying did it mean that “a singer, a sportsman or a musician” can also selected for the coveted assignment.

“Can anybody, unconnected with acedemics, be also appointed? What is the criteria? There is no qualification, no eligibility criteria, no search committee... who proposes the appointnment? Can anyone become the VC,” the bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and justices D Y Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao said. 

The bench took strong note of the submisison of senior advocate Raju Ramachandran that an eminent person can be shortlisted and appointed as the VC. Buttressing his argument, Ramachandran also referred to Vice President Hamid Ansari, a career diplomat, and said that being an eminent person, he was appointed the VC of the university during 2000-02.

“Distinguished civil servants, army generals, diplomats have held this post at the central university under the criteria of eminent person,” he said.