The Himachal Pradesh High Court has delivered a significant setback to the state government by striking down legal provisions that granted the administration overriding authority in appointing Vice Chancellors at state agricultural and forestry universities. The court observed that the modified regulations violated the mandatory provisions established under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018.
High Court Ruling on UGC Compliance
A Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Ranjan Sharma issued the ruling while allowing writ petitions filed by Narendra Kumar Sankhyan and Sanjeev Kumar Chauhan. The petitioners had challenged the altered selection procedure enacted by the state. The bench declared the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Act, 2023, its 2025 amendment, and the rules framed in 2026 unconstitutional and void ab initio.
Directives for Affected Universities
The High Court verdict directly impacts two premier state institutions: Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya located in Palampur, and Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry situated in Solan. The division bench directed the authorities to initiate a fresh selection process for Vice Chancellors in both universities strictly adhering to the selection criteria mandated by the UGC 2018 framework.
Background of the Controversy and 2026 Notification
Both universities had been functioning without permanent Vice Chancellors for an extended period. To resolve the vacancy issue while retaining decisive control over final appointments, the Sukhu administration modified the governing state legislation. Subsequently, in February 2026, the state government issued advertisements to fill the Vice Chancellor positions under the newly amended rules, which were promptly challenged before the High Court for bypassing central educational standards.
