Following the exit of Dr Sukh Pal Singh, Justice Chandra Bhushan Bajpai, a retired judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court, has taken charge as the  Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur.

Justice CB Bajpai had served at the Chhattisgarh High Court as an additional judge between 2014 and 2016. His was appointed as the interim VC for HNLU by University Chancellor and Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court, Ajay Kumar Tripathi today.

VC Bajpai arrived at the college this evening, following which he held a meeting with the University’s Student Bar Association (SBA) at around 7.30 pm. Addressing the members of the SBA, including President Snehal Ranjan Shukla and Vice-President Swati Bhargav, he assured that he would work for the best interests of the students of the University.

A statement shared with Bar & Bench indicated that the students are optimistic about the future prospects of the University with the arrival of VC Bajpai. It states,

“The students are delighted with the positive approach of the newly appointed Vice Chancellor.“

Justice Bajpai’s arrival comes two days after week-long student protests at HNLU came to a victorious end, with former VC Dr Sukh Pal Singh agreeing to step down from the post.

Dr. Singh’s tenure had initially been cut short by the Chhattisgarh High Court last August, on grounds that his 2014-term extension was prematurely made without any legal sanction. His return to the University last week, on the back of a Supreme Court stay on the High Court judgment, promptly reignited student protests.

However, last Monday, Dr Singh finally acceded to popular student demand and resigned from his office.

Photo courtesy: Akansh Jain