Shimla, May 31
The appointment of regular Vice-Chancellors in Himachal Pradesh’s state universities continues to remain pending, with the Chancellor once again opting for an interim arrangement by assigning the additional charge of Vice-Chancellor of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Palampur, to a senior bureaucrat.
As per an order issued by the Governor’s Secretariat, R.D. Nazeem, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Himachal Pradesh, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Vice-Chancellor of the university with effect from June 1, 2026. He will hold the charge in addition to his existing responsibilities following the superannuation of Dr. A.K. Panda, who was holding the additional charge of the post.
The latest arrangement comes amid continuing delays in filling top academic positions in state-run universities through regular appointments. Several universities have been functioning under officiating Vice-Chancellors or officials holding additional charge for prolonged periods.
Earlier, the additional charge of Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, was assigned to H.S. Bewaja. The appointment had attracted attention as Bewaja is facing a CBI investigation in a matter related to alleged irregularities during his tenure in a government department. However, no conviction has been reported in the case.
Also Read
HS Baweja to Hold Charge as VC of YS Parmar University
Academic circles have repeatedly expressed concern that prolonged ad hoc arrangements at the highest level can affect policy continuity, institutional decision-making, research planning and long-term development of universities.
Government functionaries maintain that the appointment of regular Vice-Chancellors requires completion of the statutory search and selection process and that interim arrangements are necessary to ensure that university administration does not suffer.
With CSKHPKV becoming the latest university to be placed under an additional-charge arrangement, the focus is once again on the pace of regular Vice-Chancellor appointments in Himachal Pradesh’s higher education sector.
About the Author
