AIZAWL, May 27: The Gauhati High Court’s Aizawl Bench on Wednesday ordered the removal of Mizoram University (MZU) Registrar Professor Lalnundanga from his post following a legal challenge over his reappointment for a second term.
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| Mizoram University (MZU) Registrar Professor Lalnundanga. (File Photo) |
According to reports, the court delivered its judgment after hearing a petition filed by two candidates who had contested the process through which Prof. Lalnundanga was granted a second term as Registrar of the Central University.
Professor Lalnundanga had earlier completed his first five-year term as Registrar and subsequently began his second term from November 19, 2024. However, questions were raised regarding the transparency and fairness of the reappointment process, prompting two competing candidates to approach the Gauhati High Court.
The petitioners reportedly filed their case before the court on December 13, 2024, alleging procedural irregularities in the selection and appointment process for the Registrar’s post. After hearing the matter for several months, the High Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of the petitioners and ordered that Prof. Lalnundanga be removed from the position of Registrar.
Sources said Prof. Lalnundanga’s previous term had officially ended on April 30, 2024. However, Mizoram University Vice Chancellor reportedly allowed him to continue functioning in the post from May 1, 2024 onwards until the process for appointing a new Registrar was completed and interviews for the second term were conducted.
Reports further alleged that the proposal and invitation notices related to the board meeting for appointing the Registrar were prepared and circulated by Prof. Lalnundanga himself through official email communication. Questions were also reportedly raised regarding whether he had prior knowledge of proceedings connected to the selection process.
For the ongoing Registrar term, a total of 10 candidates had applied for the position, out of which six candidates appeared for the interview conducted on October 23, 2024. Following the selection process, Prof. Lalnundanga formally assumed his second term as Registrar on November 19, 2024.
However, dissatisfied with the outcome and the manner in which the process was conducted, the two unsuccessful candidates subsequently moved the court seeking judicial intervention.
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The detailed contents of the High Court order are yet to be officially released in full. University authorities have also not issued any formal statement regarding the court’s decision or the immediate administrative arrangements following the removal order.
The development has triggered widespread discussion within academic and administrative circles in Mizoram, with attention now turning towards the university’s next course of action regarding the Registrar’s post.
