SC slams MG university in appointment of Rekha Raj, upholds HC order

New Delhi: Supreme Court slammed the Mahatma Gandhi University in the appointment of Dalit activist and writer Rekha Raj and refused to stay the High Court verdict that directed the university to replace her with the second rank holder.

The HC had quashed the appointment of Rekha as the assistant professor of Gandhian Studies in the University campus in Kottayam. It also directed the varsity to appoint Nisha Velappan Nair in the post. Rekha approached the apex court against it.

The court did not agree to the argument of the university that Nisha was denied the mark for PhD as she wasn’t qualified. The court slammed the decision to award marks to Rekha for her publications in journals which aren’t approved by UGC. However, Rekha’s advocate argued that the publications were approved by the university.

The court dismissed the argument that the university has power to bring amendments in the recruitment criteria.

When the university said the court’s decision may affect other appointments as well, it clarified that the order is not applicable to the appointments that are not challenged in the court.

Courtesy : Mathrubhumi

Note: This news piece was originally published in mathrubhumi.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights .