Chennai: The University of Madras has informed the Madras high court that it will not interfere with the administration of the Stella Maris College (Autonomous) in the city.
Stalin Abimanyu, counsel for the University, made the submission when the petition filed by Susan Matheikal, secretary of the college came up for hearing before Justice S.Vimala. He submitted that in terms of the earlier order passed by the high court on September 17, the University will not interfere with the administration of the college. Recording the undertaking, the judge ordered notice, returnable by four weeks, to the state government, University of Madras and UGC.
Earlier, senior counsel Isaac Mohanlal, appearing for the college, submitted that Rosy Joseph, who has the requisite qualification for appointment to the post of Principal, was appointed as the Principal of the college with effect from June 18. The college sent the proposal seeking qualification approval from the University of Madras. The University's qualification approval was necessitated for the purpose of submission of proposal to the authorities concerned for approval of the Principal's appointment for disbursement of staff grant towards salary.
The University of Madras had decided not to approve the qualification of Principal Rosy Joseph and directed the college to follow the UGC Regulations. The act of the University in directing the college to follow the UGC Regulations, which insists on constitution of a selection committee for selecting the Principal, was arbitrary and unconstitutional.
The University failed to see that the formation of such selection committee would not apply to Minority Educational Institutions like the petitioner college, he added.
