Ex-UPSC chairman to replace Kasturirangan on VC search panel

New Delhi: Former UPSC chairman DP Agarwal was on Tuesday nominated by Delhi University to the search panel for the next VC replacing K Kasturirangan following a controversy over the latter's selection to the body.

The varsity's Executive Council (EC) nominated Agarwal in an emergency meeting today which was convened following a directive from President Pranab Mukherjee, the Visitor to the Central Universities.

"Former UPSC chairman DP Agarwal's name was nominated in the Executive Council's meeting held today replacing former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan on the search panel for next Vice Chancellor," an Executive Council member said.

HRD ministry had last week objected to the nomination of Kasturirangan to the selection panel for the next VC on the grounds that his being an honorary professor could lead to conflict to interest.

While the ministry had recommended that the President send current VC Dinesh Singh on forced leave, the Visitor had asked the varsity to convene a meeting and nominate a replacement for Kasturirangan.

The proposal for Agarwal's nomination to the panel was passed in the EC with dissent from three members out of 18.

The members opposing the proposal alleged that the outgoing Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh imposed the decision on the EC.

"The name was already decided. EC was reduced to a rubber stamp yet again. There should be atleast a list of names for the council to deliberate upon, " said EC member Abha Dev Habib, who dissented on the proposal.

Yesterday, some EC members had criticised non-inclusion of the replacement issue from the list of business though the university had insisted that the issue would be taken up in the meeting today.