Out of race for UGC top post, Ved Prakash may run for VC

After the PMO returned the list of names forwarded by the HRD ministry for the post of University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman, the race has begun for the vice-chairperson's post. Vanita Srivastava reports.

After the PMO returned the list of names forwarded by the HRD ministry for the post of University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman, the race has begun for the vice-chairperson's post.

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Having lost the race for the top position, present vice-chairperson and acting head Ved Prakash has thrown his hat in this ring as well. The post of UGC chairman has been lying vacant since February 6, 2011.

A three-member search-cum-selection committee, consisting of professors M Ananda Krishnan, SK Joshi and PN Tandon, has been formed to fill the post of vice-chairperson. The HRD ministry had recently posted an advertisement on its website for filling the post. A meeting to shortlist candidates has been scheduled for next week.

We are yet to scrutinise the applications. Only then will we know if Prakash has applied for the post or not," said an official of the HRD ministry.

Alleging that Prakash's three-year tenure had lapsed on March 3, 2012, and his date of joining (May 8, 2012) had been forged, the Society for Values & Ethics in Education told the PM in a letter that the hushed manner in which the advertisement was posted on the website on April 4 reflected a move to re-appoint him.

"To reduce potential competition for Ved Prakash, the last date for forwarding recommendations has been kept as April 19 - giving others just around seven days. This violates the right to equal opportunity for public positions as well as the guidelines of the department of personnel and training," said Praveen Kumar Januja, president of the society.