Thiruvananthapuram: The appointments of three principals of Government Law Colleges have been has set aside by the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) as they were "contrary to the terms" of the UGC Regulations, 2010.

The appointments of the principals of the Government Law Colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Thrissur have been revoked by KAT members Justice P V Asha and P K Kesavan.

The government must conduct new selections in conformity with the UGC Regulations, the Tribunal further ordered.
The order from January 4 stated that "the select list is seen drawn, contrary to the provisions contained in the UGC regulations, 2010" and that "the order dated 19.3.2017, issued by government to the extent it relates to the qualifications for the post of principals, the select list dated 30.8.2018, and the promotion ordered on 3.9.2018 are set aside."

The decision was made in response to a petition filed by Giri Sankar S. S., an associate professor at Ernakulam Law College, asking for guidance on how to appoint principals in conformity with UGC regulations.

According to the UGC Regulations, 2010, "it is only proper that new selection be made as against all those positions for which that choose list was drawn," the Tribunal stated.

Also, it instructed the formation of a committee for executing the UGC-compliant selection process for principal appointments at Government Law Colleges.

The Tribunal further pointed out that the choices were made without following the rules.

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