NLIU Bhopal issues notification for appointment of new Director

Amidst threats to reignite student protests carried out last year over alleged maladministration, the National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal has issued a notification inviting nominations for the post of Director to the University.

As per the notification issued on Monday, nominations for eligible persons are to be submitted to the University on or before March 5, 2018.

Student protests at the University reached their peak last November, culminating in a firm demand for the ouster of its Director, Professor SS Singh. Prof Singh was due to complete his second term as Director this year.

The various complaints directed against Professor Singh ranged from administrative apathy in resolving issues faced by students, allegations of having made casteist and sexist remarks against students, and employment of underhand tactics to clamp down on the protests that ensued.

Prof Singh’s decision to go on voluntary leave mid-November last year signalled a temporary halt to student protests. The leave period had come to end on January 31 this year. The students, however, made it clear that if Prof Singh were to return as Director for a third term, the same would likely be met with stiff resistance.

Following student representations to intervene in the issue last year, Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and Chancellor of the University, Justice Hemant Gupta had also called for expediting the appointment of a new Director to replace Prof Singh.

As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, the Chancellor had also directed a Committee consisting of Additional Chief Secretary of the state government’s Higher Education Department, and the Principal Secretary of the Legislative Department to undertake a fact-finding enquiry into the allegations made by the students of NLIU.

The fact-finding committee is yet to submit its report thereon, although it was due to be furnished by December 25, 2017. On concerns raised regarding the same, Giribala Singh, who was appointed as Registrar by the Chancellor last year, has reportedly assured students that the report would be completed at the earliest.

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