Exclusion university connected persons search committee essential ensuring conflict free vice chancellor selection

Statutory selection frameworks for Vice-Chancellor appointments must strictly comply with mandatory UGC norms prohibiting any member of a Search-cum-Selection Committee from being connected in any manner with the concerned university or its affiliated constituent colleges. The inclusion of government officials acting in ex-officio university administrative capacities, such as Pro-Chancellor or former governing body members, directly violates neutrality principles and creates an impermissible conflict of interest. Search-cum-Selection Committees constituted without mandatory UGC Chairman nominees or comprising university-connected administrative members suffer from incurable procedural illegality that invalidates the resulting selection process. (Dr. S. Mohan v. The Secretary to the Chancellor, Puducherry Technological University, Puducherry & Ors. | 2026 INSC 100)