Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the dissolution of CMJ University in Meghalaya, affirming the state government’s 2014 decision to shut down the institution over allegations of “mismanagement, maladministration, indiscipline and fraudulent intent”.
A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Sandeep Mehta said that the procedure prescribed under Section 14(1) of the Act for the appointment of the chancellor was not duly followed by the CMJ University and consequently, the appointment of the chancellor of the CMJ University was non-est and void ab initio.
The bench upheld the state’s order, dismissing the Meghalaya high court’s 2021 directive for a reconsideration of the dissolution.
The top court found merit in the recommendations made by the Meghalaya governor, who as the university’s visitor, had advised the removal of Chandra Mohan Jha (CMJ) as the chancellor and dissolution of university, besides withdrawal of Ph.D, M.Phil and B.Ed degrees that were conferred without regulatory approvals.
The 2014 dissolution order, issued by the Meghalaya government, cited numerous violations, including the illegal appointment of the chancellor, financial irregularities, failure to submit mandatory reports, and unauthorized expansion of off-campus centers.
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The top court said the division bench of the high court was not justified in remanding the matter to a single judge for reconsideration on merits. “The decision of the state government dated 31st March 2014 in dissolving the CMJ University is affirmed. It would be open for the state government to take appropriate measures pursuant to the affirmation of the decision to dissolve the CMJ University,” said the bench.
The apex court underscored that the Meghalaya government had provided CMJ University ample opportunities to rectify its violations.
