2 months ago
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The Madras High Court connected Tuesday (February 24, 2026) admitted a writ petition filed by Anna University, represented by its Registrar, against an bid passed by Governor R.N. Ravi, successful his capableness arsenic chancellor of the university, connected September 5, 2025, mounting speech the suspension bid issued against the varsity’s erstwhile vice-chancellor R. Velraj connected July 31, 2025.
Justice M. Dhandapani admitted the writ petition and ordered notices to the chancellor arsenic good arsenic Mr. Velraj aft the assemblage counsel Richardson Wilson contended that neither the Anna University Act of 1978 nor the statutes connected disciplinary procedures framed successful 1980 empower the chancellor to entertain an entreaty against the suspension bid issued by the Syndicate.
The counsel told the tribunal that Mr. Velraj had served arsenic the vice-chancellor betwixt August 11, 2021, and August 9, 2024, earlier being reverted to his archetypal presumption arsenic prof of mechanical engineering department. During his tenure, determination were sedate allegations related to affiliation of backstage engineering colleges and assignment of ineligible persons arsenic professors of eminence.
Therefore, the State authorities successful January 2025 sought the support of the chancellor to behaviour a Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) enquiry against him. The chancellor successful July 2025 wrote backmost to the authorities refusing to assistance immoderate specified permission. Hence, the Syndicate successful its 275th gathering held connected July 30, 2025, resolved to suspend Mr. Velraj from service.
Since the erstwhile vice-chancellor was besides owed to discontinue from work connected July 31, 2025, the Syndicate besides decided to not fto him discontinue from work until the decision of the departmental inquiry. In bid to springiness effect to the Syndicate’s decision, a convenor committee, constituted to execute the functions of the vice-chancellor, issued indispensable proceedings connected the aforesaid time and the Registrar conveyed it to Mr. Velraj.
The suspended worker filed an entreaty petition earlier the chancellor connected August 20, 2025 challenging the suspension order. The second entertained the appeal, acceptable speech the suspension bid connected September 5, 2025 and permitted Mr. Velraj to discontinue from service. Assailing the chancellor’s decision, the assemblage contended earlier the High Court that the Syndicate was not subordinate to the chancellor.
“The Syndicate is the apex assemblage of the university. Therefore, the chancellor cannot usurp unto himself the powerfulness to modify oregon revoke an bid of suspension passed by the Syndicate. Only the Syndicate tin modify an bid of suspension issued by it. The legislative intent is clear. The University is to relation arsenic a self-contained autonomous assemblage with the Syndicate arsenic its apex body,” the affidavit filed by Registrar V. Kumaresan read.
