The row over the Governor-led reconstitution of Mahatma Gandhi University’s Boards of Studies has intensified further with Vice Chancellor in-charge Mavoothu D. backing the appointments and ruling out any violation of university norms.

The move comes amid a growing face-off between the Syndicate and the office of the Governor, who is the Chancellor of the university, over alleged irregularities in the constitution of the academic bodies, which play a crucial role in framing and approving university syllabi.

In an order issued on June 16, 2026, the Vice Chancellor maintained that the nominations made by the Chancellor and the subsequent notifications constituting the Boards of Studies were in conformity with the provisions of the Mahatma Gandhi University Act and Statutes. “The decision of the Syndicate communicated lacks statutory support and is therefore not legally sustainable,” reads the order, issued in response to a communication from the Governor seeking clarification on the alleged irregularities in the reconstitution of the Boards of Studies.

Procedures bypassed

However, the Syndicate has stood by its objections, questioning the Vice Chancellor’s decision to approve the list by invoking his special powers without seeking the Syndicate’s opinion. “The Vice Chancellor appears to be making hurried moves to bypass established university procedures and push through appointments in various areas at his discretion. A similar controversy had surfaced recently when unqualified subject experts were included in the selection process for guest faculty appointments,” a Syndicate member said.

The controversy traces back to the Syndicate meeting held on April 7, following which the body submitted a letter to the Chancellor flagging alleged irregularities in the reconstitution of 20 out of the university’s 54 Boards of Studies. The Syndicate raised concerns over the large-scale inclusion of teachers from autonomous colleges and individuals from outside the university system in the Boards of Studies, besides questioning the appointment of chairpersons who, according to them, did not meet the statutory criteria.

Such appointments, the Syndicate argued, could undermine academic transparency, accountability, and the university’s statutory authority over academic matters.

What norms say

As per university regulations, the chairperson of a Board of Studies should be a person holding the position of head of a department in an affiliated college or a university department. However, university officials pointed out that in subjects such as Sanskrit, Zoology, History and Social Work, persons who do not hold the post of department head have been appointed as chairpersons. A similar issue has also been raised in Mathematics.

They further alleged that individuals working outside the university have been appointed as chairpersons of Boards of Studies in subjects such as Music, Law, Islamic History, and Performing Arts.

Another major concern flagged by the Syndicate relates to the composition of several Boards of Studies, including Botany, where a majority of members are reportedly teachers from autonomous institutions. The composition of the Board of Studies in Geology has also come under scrutiny, with university sources claiming that none of its members are faculty members of Mahatma Gandhi University. The Syndicate alleged that this goes against the regulation requiring university teachers to be included in Boards of Studies on a rotational basis.

“Normally, only one or two external subject experts are included in Boards of Studies. But when a majority of members are from outside the university, it could affect the timely conduct of meetings and delay crucial recommendations that need urgent consideration,” a university official said.