The petition prayed that the provision be declared as ultra vires, non est and void ab initio on the ground that it enabled the appointment of an academic from any discipline as vice-chancellor of the University.
In the alternative, it prayed that the provision be read down to mean that only distinguished academics in the field of law are eligible to be appointed as vice-chancellor.
The petition also sought a declaration that Section 11(17) of the Act violate Articles 14 and 254 of the Constitution by being grossly arbitrary and irrational in that it empowered the chancellor to appoint the first vice-chancellor of the university in defiance of the mandatory procedure prescribed by the Act.
Lastly, it sought quashing of the February 2020 order that appointed Dr. Dev Swaroop as the vice-chancellor.
The counsel for Bar Council of India supported the case of the petitioner and raised similar arguments.
Source: Barandbench
