Chandigarh's Panjab University faces setback as HC cancels appointment of Director at UILS
Chandigarh, December 8: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has nullified the appointment of Professor Sarabjit Kaur as the Director of the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) at Panjab University. The court has directed the university authorities to complete the appointment process of a new director within six weeks.
A professor of Political Science, Sarabjit Kaur was appointed to the position of Director at the University Institute of Legal Studies, a move that was challenged in court by Professor Shruti Bedi. She contended that on May 31, Panjab University appointed Professor Sarabjit Kaur as Director of the UILS department. However, according to the rules of the Bar Council of India, only someone with 15 years of experience in legal education can be appointed as the Director or Dean of an educational institution providing legal education.
She alleged that in blatant disregard of these rules, Panjab University, Chandigarh, appointed a professor of Political Science to the position of Director at UILS, which was deemed entirely incorrect. Professor Shruti Bedi had urged the Punjab and Haryana High Court to cancel this appointment.
Earlier, the High Court had issued notices to the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and others involved in the case, seeking explanations as to why this appointment shouldn't be halted.
Now, after hearing the petition, the High Court has deemed the appointment of the Political Science professor to the position of Director in the Legal Studies Department as entirely inappropriate. As a result, the court has ordered Panjab University to cancel this appointment and complete the process of appointing a new director within six weeks.
- With inputs from our correspondent
