HC grants interim stay on single judge's order

The Madras High Court today granted interim stay on the order of a single judge who had ruled that the appointment of Prof A Nirmala as the Principal of Ethiraj College was against UGC regulations.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice Sathish K. Agnihotri and Justice K.K. Sasidharan, issued notice to UGC, Directorate of Collegiate Education, Vice Chancellor/Registrar Madras University, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, and other professors of Ethiraj College and posted the matter after two weeks enabling them to file counter.
Earlier on January 7, the single judge Justice M.M.A Sundresh, on a petition filed by Dr K.R.S. Girija Shyamsundar and other professors challenging the appointment of Nirmala as Principal, had said the appointment was not according to UGC regulations and directed the Management to select as per UGC norms.

The judge, however, directed Nirmala to continue till a new principal was appointed.
The management challenged this saying the appointment of Nirmala had satisfied the norms prescribed by UGC regulations 2000 and sought an interim injunction on the single judge order till disposal of the appeal filed by it.