Assam University VC Rajive Mohan Appeals High Court Verdict on Appointment

Professor Rajive Mohan Pant, Vice-Chancellor of Assam University, has filed a writ appeal before the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court. The appeal challenges the judgment delivered on 14 October 2026 by Justice N Unnikrishnan Nair, which declared Professor Pant’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor illegal.

The appeal was filed on 23 October 2026 and names several respondents, including Professor Samira Behera from the University’s Department of Mathematics, who initially filed the petition that led to the ruling. Other respondents include the Central Government, the Union Ministry of Education’s Secretary and Under Secretary, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and Assam University itself.

The Division Bench is expected to conduct the initial hearing of the appeal on 2 November 2026.

The 14 October judgment stated that Professor Pant had no legal authority to continue as Vice-Chancellor. The court directed the appointing authority to entrust the responsibilities of the office to another eligible university individual immediately.

This legal dispute has caused an administrative and financial crisis at Assam University, resulting in uncertainty for nearly 750 employees regarding their salaries for the current month.

AUS and similar universitiesIn Assam and close in NIRF rank

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NAAC B++NIRF #97 (2025)Assam UniversitySilchar, AssamAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1994View detailsTUNAAC ANIRF #79 (2025)Tezpur UniversityTezpur, AssamAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1994View detailsCURAJNAAC ANIRF #89 (2025)Central University of RajasthanAjmer, RajasthanAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 2009View detailsCUTNNAAC ANIRF #83 (2025)Central University of Tamil NaduTiruvarur, Tamil NaduAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 2009View detailsMZUNAAC ANIRF #82 (2025)Mizoram UniversityAizawl, MizoramAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 2000View detailsCUPNAAC ANIRF #77 (2025)Central University of PunjabBathinda, PunjabAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 2009View detailsBBAUNAAC ANIRF #37 (2025)Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar UniversityLucknow, Uttar PradeshAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1996View detailsUOHNAAC A++NIRF #18 (2025)University of HyderabadHyderabad, TelanganaAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1974View detailsNAAC A+NIRF #10 (2025)Aligarh Muslim UniversityAligarh, Uttar PradeshAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1920View detailsNAAC ANIRF #6 (2025)Banaras Hindu UniversityVaranasi, Uttar PradeshAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1916View details