Quo Warranto against Anna varsity V C

Chennai, Apr 3 (UNI) A Writ of Quo Warranto has been filed in Madras High Court against Anna University Vice-Chancellor D Vishwanathan, seeking to show cause as to under what authority he was holding the post of Chairman, Regional Council AICTE, Southern Region, Chennai.

When the petition by retired headmaster S Nagarajan came up for hearing, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Ms Justice Prabha Sridevan ordered notice to Mr Vishwanathan, AICTE, New Delhi and Union Ministry of Human Resources Development Secretary.

The petitioner said Mr Vishwanathan was also Chairman of Southern Regional Council of AICTE, which issued a public notice on February 16, 2006 stating inter alia that no university including deemed-to-be university shall conduct technical educational courses/programmes without ensuring maintainance of norms and standards it prescribed. However, AICTE Vice-President Yadhav on March 3 categorically said the University or Deemed Universities need not seek approval for conducting technical educational courses/programmes from the University. This was the correct position in law not only going by provisions of the AICTE Act but also the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court in the Bharathidasan case. But unfortunately, trouble started when Mr Vishwanathan, 'out of greed' stated that deemed universities should come under Anna University's control.

With this objective, he misused his position as Chairman of Southern Regional Council of AICTE, the petitioner said.

UNI XR AA ARB BD1929