HP HC Stays Governor's Order on HPU VC Duties
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has stayed the Governor's order assigning VC duties to the Dean and Registrar, providing relief to Pro VC Rajinder Verma.
In a significant legal development, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has stayed an order issued by the Governor-cum-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU). The order had assigned the duties of the Vice-Chancellor to the Dean of Studies and the Registrar during the current Vice-Chancellor's foreign tour, a move that has now been put on hold by the court.
The decision provides major relief to Pro Vice-Chancellor Rajinder Verma, who challenged the arrangement. Justice Sandeep Sharma, while presiding over the petition filed by Verma, ordered that the office order dated October 1, 2026, remain in abeyance until the next scheduled hearing.
The Core of the Dispute
The legal battle erupted following the Chancellor's decision to delegate the Vice-Chancellor's responsibilities to BK Shivram, the Dean of Studies, and Jyoti Rana, the Registrar, during the VC's absence from October 2 to October 12. This arrangement bypassed the Pro Vice-Chancellor, leading to the current litigation.
Representing Verma, senior advocate Rajnish Maniktala argued that this delegation was a direct violation of the Himachal Pradesh University Act, 1970. Specifically, the counsel pointed to Section 12B of the Act, which stipulates that the Pro Vice-Chancellor is entitled to discharge the duties of the Vice-Chancellor during any temporary absence. According to the argument, an alternative arrangement can only be made if no Pro Vice-Chancellor is currently in office.
Court Observations on Tenure and Authority
The court examined the status of Rajinder Verma's position. Records show that Verma was appointed to the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor for a three-year term on June 3, 2023, and officially assumed charge on June 7, 2023. While his initial tenure technically concluded on June 6, 2026, the court noted a crucial legal detail.
Under the proviso to Section 12-D (2) of the Act, the court observed that Verma continued to hold office because no successor had been appointed to replace him. Furthermore, the court remarked that there is no provision within the Act that prevents a Pro Vice-Chancellor—even one continuing past their initial tenure—from performing the duties attached to the post.
Allegations of Marginalization
The petition also brought to light several grievances regarding how Verma was being treated by the university administration. The petitioner contended that:
- University notifications, which require matters intended for the Vice-Chancellor to be routed through the Pro Vice-Chancellor, were being ignored following the expiry of his initial tenure.
- Verma was allegedly being excluded from essential meetings of the university’s statutory bodies and authorities.
Next Steps for HPU
The High Court ruled that assigning the Vice-Chancellor's duties to the Dean and Registrar could not be justified under Section 12-D (2) of the University Act. Consequently, the court has granted the university two weeks to file its official reply.
While the interim order protects Verma's current role, the court clarified that it does not stop the university authorities from starting the formal process of appointing a new Pro Vice-Chancellor, provided they follow the legal provisions of the University Act. The case, registered as a Civil Writ Petition (CWP), is set for further hearing on November 4, 2026.