Former VC of Jaffna Uni. files FR Petition against his removal
View(s):Former Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Jaffna (UoJ) Prof Ratnam Vigneswaran has filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) Petition regarding his sudden removal from his position.
He has cited University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Mohan de Silva and its members among others, as Respondents.
The Petitioner says he is a Professor of Mathematics and with a distinguished academic record, and is one of the foremost Computer Studies and Mathematics experts in the country.
He says he has published and presented papers internationally and within Sri Lanka, including several publications in renowned international journals, sometimes co-authored with leading global experts. He has also held several administrative positions within the University system in Sri Lanka, including Head of Department and Dean of Faculty.
He says he was appointed VC of the UoJ on April 24, 2017, for a 3-year term.
However, on April 30, 2019, he received a letter by fax from the Secretary to the President, that the President had decided to remove him from his post in terms of Section 34(1)(c) of the Universities Act, with immediate effect.
He says there were no reasons adduced on the face of the letter whatsoever, and that, he is at a loss to understand why he has been purportedly removed. The Petitioner also said, no proceedings or inquiries of any kind had been pending against the Petitioner, in any forum or institution whatsoever.
The Petitioner states that, being unaware of any reason for his purported removal, the Petitioner wrote to the Secretary to the President on May 7, 2019, stating he was at a loss to understand the reasons for his removal and requested he be informed of the said reasons, but no response was received.
He says that, in the circumstances, the Petitioner apprehends that his purported removal was instigated and influenced by those interested in replacing the Petitioner as VC.
He says his removal is a violation of his FR guaranteed by Articles 12(1) and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution.
The Petition is to be supported in the Supreme Courts next week, by Attorney-at-Law Niran Anketell. -PCK