Updated on: Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Having failed to select a candidate for the post of UGC chairman for over a year now, the government has started the selection process afresh, terming it as an "extended" exercise.
At present, Vice-Chairman Prof Ved Prakash is acting as Chairman of the University Grants Commission.
The search-cum-selection committee was earlier understood to have shortlisted Prof Pankaj Chandra, Director IIM (Bangalore), and Prof Seyed Hasnain, former Vice-Chancellor of Hyderabad University but the selection was marred with controversy.
In a notification issued on September 10, the HRD Ministry said "the search-cum-selection committee, at the instance of the government, is now doing an extended search seeking more names of suitable candidates for preparing a larger panel.
"Nominations sent earlier need not be sent afresh. Nominations would be received till mid-October", said a senior HRD Ministry official, adding the selection process got involved in too much of political wrangling.
Nominations for the post of UGC Chairman were invited during August- September 2011 seeking nominations of eminent persons.