Irani appoints professor attacked by Bajrang Dal as Garhwal University's VC

Kaul was manhandled and attacked by members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in September this year when he issued an appeal to help organize relief for Kashmir flood victims

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Irani appoints professor attacked by Bajrang Dal as Garhwal University's VC
Smriti Irani

HRD Minister Smriti Irani

Though he was attacked and manhandled by right wing groups only two months back, law professor Jawahar Lal Kaul has not lost favour with the BJP government at the Centre.

The Smriti Irani led union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has appointed the former Vice Chancellor of the Vikram University in Madhya Pradesh as the new VC of the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University- a central university. The surprise appointee--Kaul incidentally is also on the five member search panel to select a new Chairman for the CBSE.

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Kaul was manhandled and attacked by members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in September this year when he issued an appeal to help organize relief for Kashmir flood victims

Prof Kaul was the VC of the Ujjain based Vikram University when Kashmir was devastated by sudden floods in September this year. With over 100 Kashmiri students enrolled in various courses, Kaul issued an appeal asking students to contribute towards relief operations in the flood hit state. The move, however, earned him the ire of right wing groups who barged into the university, ransacked the VC's office and also manhandled him. Kaul had to be admitted in the hospital with injuries, high blood pressure and chest pain following the incident.

With three decades of teaching experience behind him, Kaul was a professor at Delhi University Campus Law Centre before being appointed as VC of Vikram University. He specializes in international trade law and human rights.

Kaul's appointment apart, Irani has also surprised with her choice of Vice Chancellor for the Gujarat . Prof Syed A Bari was appointed VC of the varsity and continues to be a favourite. He also heads the one man committee probing the allegations of irregularities against the IGNOU VC.

Meanwhile, the HRD ministry has scrapped the search cum selection committee for appointments of VCs to Jharkhand University besides Kashmir University. With near ten central universities still awaiting a head, the Irani led ministry has finally started the appointment process at most of these.