5 days ago
In latest standoff with Raj Bhavan, Himachal government withdraws 2 V-C recruitment ads
Upping the ante against Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, the Himachal Pradesh government on Monday withdrew two advertisements issued to fill the vacant vice-chancellor (V-C) posts at Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Nauni and CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University in Palampur.
The advertisements were issued on July 21 by selection committees constituted by Governor Shukla in his capacity as the chancellor of both universities.
The government notification issued by the office of C Paulrasu, Secretary (Agriculture), termed the advertisements 'illegal' and contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. The notification declared the advertisements withdrawn and said any action based on them would be treated as 'null and void'.
The notification also referred to the observation of the office of the Himachal advocate general on this issue. 'This matter was referred to the office of learned Advocate General for the legal opinion. The Advocate General opined 'Section 22 of the University Act under this section Chancellor is an officer of the University. Therefore, his Excellence the Governor while acting as Chancellor is not performing the duties of the 'office of Governor' but as officer of the University, who is bound by the directives/instructions of the government,' the notification stated.
'When the government has requested Chancellor to drop the advertisements till the passing of Amendment Bill (Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Bill, 2023), Chancellor is bound by the directions of the Government,' it added.
The Amendment Bill was passed by the Assembly in September 2023 and sent to the Raj Bhavan for the governor's approval. However, the governor returned the draft Bill to the state government, seeking some changes.
'Governor Shukla has gone to Delhi. He is scheduled to return today [Tuesday]. We will be able to make any comment after discussing with him,' a senior officer at Raj Bhavan said.
The Himachal Assembly had passed the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Bill No. 14 of 2023) on September 21 last year and sent it to the governor for assent. The governor returned it with the observation that the Model Act for Higher Agricultural Educational Institutions in India (Revised 2023) should be incorporated for constituting the selection committee. The Bill is likely to be taken up again in the Monsoon Session beginning September 18.
Meanwhile, Governor Shukla set up selection committees on May 15 and June 21 to fill the V-C posts at the two universities. On July 21, the committees issued advertisements for the posts.
According to the three-page notification, the governor's move to issue the advertisements was discussed extensively in the recently held Cabinet meeting under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on July 27, following which a decision to withdraw the selection process initiated by the Raj Bhavan was taken.
The notification mentioned that state Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar, in a letter to the Governor's secretariat on July 26, had urged that the process be halted. 'The Legislative Assembly is reconsidering the Amendment Bill, 2023. Therefore, the continuation of the selection process is not only illegal but also against the spirit of the Constitution and democratic values,' he wrote.
In reply, the governor's secretariat noted that the Palampur agriculture university post has been vacant since 2023 and the Nauni horticulture university post since May 2025. It stated that the selection committee was formed strictly under the HP Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986, guidelines, and the advertisements were issued according to rules.
The Himachal Pradesh government and the Raj Bhavan have locked horns on various issues, including drug abuse in the state, revenue land, etc.
