Ved Prakash appointed UGC chairman

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has finally got its chairman with the elevation of its vice-chairman Ved Prakash to the post, which was lying vacant for nearly last two years.

His appointment has been cleared by the Cabinet’s Appointment Committee on the recommendation of Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry.

The Ministry had set up a selection-cum-search committee to recommend names for final selection for the post of chairman of the higher education regulator. The panel shortlisted 20 candidates and recommended the names of chief statistician T C A Anant and Tata Institute of Social Sciences chief S Parasuraman besides Prakash for the top post.

The committee comprised Goverdhan Mehta, National Research Professor in University of Hyderabad, K Srinath Reddy, president Public Health Foundation of India and Prof N R Madhav Menon, former head National Law School University, Bangalore.

Prakash, a recipient of the US Fulbright post-doctoral fellowship, has held a number of important positions in national and international organisations and has been the acting chairman of UGC for over 23 months. He also served the commission as its secretary. 

He also served as adviser, education, Planning Commission, Government of India, as professor and head, department of educational measurement and evaluation, National Council of Educational Research and Training, associate professor, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection and joint director, Staff Selection Commission.

The first search-cum-selection committee, set up by the HRD Ministry after retirement of Thorat, had shortlisted the name of IIM-Bangalore Director Pankaj Chandra and former vice chancellor of Hyderabad University Sayed Hasnain. Their selection, however, was marred by some controversy, prompting the government to start the selection process afresh.

Last year in September, the Delhi High Court had issued a notice to the Centre seeking its response after a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by C S Kalra, a retired professor, seeking direction from the court to fill the seat of UGC chairman which has been lying vacant.