Shillong – The Meghalaya Education Department has appointed D Lyngdoh as administrator to oversee the dissolution of CMJ University, following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Lyngdoh, who currently serves as Joint Secretary to the Meghalaya government, will implement the university’s closure as approved by the state government, Education Commissioner Vijay Mantri announced on Thursday.
The Supreme Court, in its February 13 judgment, upheld the state’s 2014 decision to shut down the institution, citing serious irregularities, particularly in the appointment of its chancellor.
The court’s ruling, delivered by Justices P S Narasimha and Sandeep Mehta, stated that the procedure for the chancellor’s appointment under the CMJ University Act was not followed.
The case also highlighted alarming academic malpractices, including the awarding of 434 PhD degrees and the registration of 490 more PhD scholars in violation of University Grants Commission norms.
The Supreme Court praised the state government’s thorough investigation and evaluation of the university’s operations before ordering its closure, noting the government’s meticulous analysis of the irregularities and discrepancies.
The court rejected a 2015 single-judge order that had invalidated the dissolution, affirming the Meghalaya High Court’s decision to overturn that order.
The Supreme Court emphasized the state government’s adherence to procedural requirements under the CMJ University Act during the 2014 dissolution process. This ruling concludes a decade-long legal battle concerning the university, which was established in 2009.
The state government had provided the institution with multiple opportunities to rectify its violations before proceeding with the dissolution.
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