The high court on Friday served notice on Patna University chancellor on a petition seeking removal of its vice-chancellor (VC) Shambhu Nath Singh from the post. Singh was also issued a notice.

A bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi sought their response while hearing a petition filed by one Mukesh Kumar Singh, a student. He has sought quashing of the notification (August 1, 2011) appointing Singh as the VC of Patna University.

Raju A. Giri, the counsel for the petitioner, submitted that Singh was appointed as VC in flagrant violation of provisions of Patna University Act, 1976. He submitted that Singh neither possessed the required qualification for the appointment to the post nor any consultation was made before appointing him.

According to the Section 11(2) of the act, the chancellor should make appointment in consultation with the state government, Giri said. But the state government was not consulted on appointing Singh as the VC of PU, he claimed.

Contending that Singh does not possess the requisite qualification to be appointed as the VC, Giri cited the provision of Section 11(1) of the Patna University Act, 1976. It says a person, who has either been a professor for more than six years or head of the department or principal, can be appointed as the VC of the university. But Singh lacked on this count because he did not have any academic record, he said. Before being appointed the VC of Patna University, Singh held positions in a number of premier institutions of journalism, mass communication and higher education.

The petitioner also alleged that the academic atmosphere deteriorated after Singh took over as the VC of the university. Besides, he indulged in nepotism, added Giri.

Another petition challenging the appointment of six vice-chancellors and four pro-vice-chancellors is pending before the high court.