Azim Premji University professor, Prof Sudhir Krishnaswamy, is overwhelmingly likely to be the next vice chancellor (VC) of NLSIU Bangalore (and the first alumni to take charge at their own alma mater national law school).
The committee tasked with re-interviewing the three short-listed candidates for the position, has in its meeting on 23 July recommended Krishnaswamy’s name as VC, and circulated its decision to the NLSIU executive council (EC) (see full minutes below).
It is understood that the EC had in its previous meeting decided it would accept whatever recommendation the committee would circulate, with his appointment now only being subject to sign off by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), as chancellor of NLSIU.
Krishnaswamy is a 1998 NLSIU graduate, who also holds a BCL and Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford University.
Last month the EC had decided to delay the decision to pick a VC, despite the search committee having made a clear recommendation.
Contrary to rumours that the search would restart from scratch, however, the committee talked to the three candidates again later in July and has now reiterated its recommendation.
Besides Krishnaswamy, the three finalists in the VC race were SLS Pune director Prof Sashikala Gurpur and NLU Odisha VC Prof Srikrishna Deva Rao.
While it is theoretically possible, it is highly unlikely that the CJI will delay the VC appointment process further, which had begun in February 2019.
Since 1 August, professor of environmental law, Dr MK Ramesh took over as interim VC of NLSIU after Prof R Venkat Rao’s term formally ended on 31 July 2019.
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Nliu act 1997 me bana tha jisne Bhopal establish Kiya tha
Nalsar act 1998 me bana tha..uski act dekh Lena...bas sunna jaruri nahi..seeing is believing....
It might take a few more weeks before Sudhir Krishnaswamy joins office. At the moment, the EC resolution recommending his name as the next NLSIU Vice-Chancellor (dated August 2, 2019 - partially extracted in the main story here) has been circulated to all the members. Once all the EC members acknowledge the receipt of this document, the Registrar (Prof. O.V. Nandimath) has to inform the Chief Justice of India (CJI). After this, the CJI's office has to send a written instruction to the Registrar clearing the recommended name. The appointment order can then be issued by the Registrar. Hopefully these procedural formalities will be completed within the month of August so that Sudhir Krishnaswamy can join by the start of September.
NLS, at this crucial juncture, needed a person with a strong character like Prof. Menon more than someone with academic credentials.
All the best to Sudhir. May the force be with him.
The other question to be asked is, what will happen to the new faculty, the ad hocs, etc? And will Siddharth Chauhan make a grand return to Nags? Because he was at the forefront of this Sudhir-for-VC campaign in the alumni circle
@Chauhan, I am sure you are following this post closely. Can you please tell us if you intend to come to NLS, if given a chance? If your current academic commitments does not allow you to teach at your alma mater, consider offering an elective in the second or the third trimester in which case you can manage your time between NLS and NALSAR.
I am not sure whether after how NLS as an institution treated you whether NLS deserves you, but I am sure NLS needs you. But then, so much does NALSAR.
1. MoU between NLSIU and Oxford/Columbia.
2.Stress on quality publications and research.
3. Lots of alumni as guest faculty, some as council members.
4. Eventually a place in the world rankings.
Others NLUs will now become insecure, but the positive thing to do is also demand alumni as VC. NUJS and GNLU have squandered their opportunity, while NALSAR is stuck with FM till some time. However, is NLUD is up next and can cite Sudhir's precedent to appoint Mrinal.
[img]https://tifca.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Yeah-im-jealous-meme-36317.jpg[/img]
Anyway quite a few had pointed out that MP Singh gave out of turning promotions to Sudhir (as also Shamnad) at NUJS. Sudhir who was then a contractual Asst Prof at NLS was zoomed into Prof position at NUJS. It now appears that Prof Singh did quite a few out-of-turn stuff at NUJS. Some were even reversed by its EC. Some say he was trying to shake things for better. Others say that he was actually pursuing petty goals under the garb of being a maverick.
Whatever the truth, the NUJS records does pose questions to the elevated (possibly exaggerated) status of MP Singh. I am all for "breaking" arcane rules and for that Prof Singh should certainly be congratulated. But what if the rules are broken, bent and applied in a selective manner?
So, will the Angry Profs now litigate on how Sudhir became a Prof. Were the existing rules then (selectively) followed, which allowed Sudhir to steal a long march over Sarasu, Nandimath etc? Did the rules allow for an Asst Prof (contractual) to be directly elevated as Prof?
We may not like certain or many rules. Those rules could have ruled out such game changing appointments. But shouldn't the rules be changed first and not used in a manner which is patent with personal bias in favour of a certain person? Because a precedent for cherry picking can and will come back to bite us.
Also, I find it interesting that while Prof MP Singh and Supreme Court judges are being feted for staring down the VC mafia, no questions are being asked about how Prof Ishwara Bhat (previously) and now Prof NKC were appointed in NUJS. In both instances Prof MP Singh (and even Prof Menon before his untimely demise) lobbied intensely for Prof Bhat and NKC. Or how MP Singh was party to an atrocious, poorly drafted and moralistic URC Report on NLSIU. And where were these kindred souls when various NLUs including NUJS erupted in protests or when state encroachment was being facilitated by Justice Amit Talukdar and now by Prof NKC? What explains the differential treatment. Shouldn't it worry us why someone has suddenly gone so benevolent on us or may do it at NLUD too but maintain a curious silence elsewhere?
Can we expect the SC judges (at least those occupying EC positions in NLUs) to become more active in NLU governance? Despite various protests by students and administrative changes in NLUs, significant change has been elusive.
By the way someone must be drawing some cold comfort for having lost out the Registrar position previously.
https://spicyip.com/2007/03/mashelkar-committee-report-and-industry.html
1. Aparna is on leave and will probably keep extending it for a while, she's supposed to be going to Ashoka soon
2. Mrinal is at DJA and will join whatever institution Aparna is at after his deputation is over
3. Chinmayi is doing an LLM at Harvard this year, and is unlikely to return to NLU Delhi
Stuff about Dany, Pai and Anup is correct.
Quite a bit of Prof MP Singh's "game changing" (or as some would say gaming the system) stuff including Sudhir's professorial appointment is available in the EC, AC etc records that were released following twin pressures from ex-SJA President Arjun Agarwal and the SJA itself. Have a look there.
Speaking of Shamnad. As with Sudhir his credentials were sparkling when he had applied for the IPR Chair position at NUJS. But how did a "Chair Professor" become a full Professor beats me. Chair positions are mostly honorary in India because it also allows industry professionals to be appointed. Therefore, SC/HC judges, senior advocates, bureaucrats etc. These individuals do not have PhDs but there experience etc makes them eligible for Chair positions.
Some interesting nuggets on Shamnad's appointment as IPR Chair in NUJS. Publicly available records suggest that he was the sole applicant but unclear if the position was even properly advertised or the CV came through via "channels"; Shamnad didn't have a PhD (then) and the appointment happened as soon as the Mashelkar wrinkle got ironed. Kapil Sibal was the MHRD. Savvy?
Shamnad received his PhD in 2012/2013. Both Sudhir and Shamnad not only stole a long march over their peers and seniors but also "Professored" for 4 to 5 years due to talent-spotting by Prof MP Singh (and hence the halo of greatness). However, Prof Singh threw the UGC rule book at many others who did not come duly "referenced". When it became difficult to give such out-of-turn promotions, Prof Singh would give out-of-turn increments or have his acolytes (all with brilliant CVs) made "permanent" who would almost immediately go abroad.
Many will say that the brilliant folks who went West deserved such exceptional treatment. Maybe. But then why did Prof Singh give questionable promotions to a trio - AKP and his amigos? It is said that their affinity to Justice Talukdar ensured that they survived the scathing legal opinion by Justice Shyamal Sen, which was quietly tucked away. An EC dominated by friends of Justice Talukdar could care less.
Back to Prof MP Singh. It is fabled that once the EC started scrutinizing out-of-turn appointments and increments to a cherry picked few; making faculty and staff permanent in a questionable manner etc, Prof Singh played victim (hence the deliberately sympathetic portrayal by his acolytes that Prof Singh was wronged by a "system" that he wanted changed for better) . But the EC had enough of his chicanery (and financial jugglery). And when denied a full five year extension, he hit back with Prof Ishwara Bhat. The rest is history, which is conveniently forgotten.
Whatever the supposed frictions between Sudhir and Shamnad, there is a convergence of interests right now. Lots of air kissing waiting to happen among tons of former foes till the night of long knives comes along.
As with Sudhir's appointment, NUJS again holds the key to the planned litigation against Sudhir. It has all the records which could rock the boat. Then again rats could have always selectively eaten those papers/files.
NLS adminstration is so archaic that they still prefer seniority over merit. So much to scuttle the chances of a prospectively bright leader. Their worthless ego is so high that they don't want to take instructions from Sudhir. At least give him a chance for God's sake.
The interim VC just wanted to restate that he is not open to direct requests/emails on every issue, unlike Venkata Rao who always had an open door policy.
These people (geriatric brigade, anti-Sudhir etc) have a lot of faults. But there's not daft enough to try this.
https://www.law.columbia.edu/international-programs/study-abroad-programs/international-joint-degrees
Sudhir did what he had to get this position. Gurpur and KDR too pandered to various other interests. They lost. And these contests always run zigzag. As with other VCs, Sudhir too will be returning favours, "forgetting", "remembering" and "inventing" some in the process.
My post was about something else. It was about whether cherry picking is to be encouraged just because it arguably produced a 'good" outcome. Have the who, when, what and hows of cherry-picking been considered? Do short-term or sporadic gains (disputed) trump long-term consequences?
I doubt that those serious about taking Sudhir to court are waiting for me to provide details. [Moderated because no details provided]
On the point about Justice Bobde swinging it for Sudhir and hence going to courts will be stupid. Yes, whoever made that point, is probably right. As the saying goes, there is a difference between knowing the law and knowing the judge.
Then again some "fool" in HNLU went to the Raipur HC because the VC of HNLU had been given an illegal extension by the Chancellor - the CJ of the same Court. This extension was given by the EC, which had an SC judge, AG of the State and other worthies and signed off by a Chancellor who is now in the SC. And yet despite the twists, the miracle happened. The VC was ejected although the SC kinda gave him the elbow room to return. That's where the students came in. And we known the rest.
Unfortunately, as with NUJS, NUSRL, CNLU etc here too the students got sold short by a cabal of worthies including the high priests of justice, law and other such hollow things. Maybe there is more than a cautionary tale in all of these episodes.
The NLIU VC thing is actually instructive. Students came to know that politicking had ensured that VK was upstaged by someone really sad. So they agitated and that compelled the necessary change.
The rules require the EC to forward the name or names to the CJI. Nothing suggests that EC must agree with the choice of the Search Committee although a divergence will of course need solid reasons. So yes, Sudhir is mostly in Yes terrain.
However, if the majority of the EC or certain worthies or even the state government (formally or through other channels) were to raise red flags, especially the "Professor" appointment issue at NUJS with proper records and clearly show the conflict-of-interest with Prof MP Singh (and whether he disclosed all material particulars in the search comm meetings) that may disrupt or prolong the appointment.
It ain't over, till it's over.
https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/rajya-sabha-passes-bill-on-national-institutes-of-design-nids-in-four-states-1578122-2019-08-07
Secondly, as of now Sudhir is a Dean in the Azim Premji University. What do you want him to do? Why do you troll for no reason?
https://spicyip.com/2019/08/shamnad-basheer-1976-2019-the-man-the-academic-and-the-friend.html
I'm in the 3rd year of Law School (Private law school in Mumbai, very strict attendance no scope for interning all year.), I have taken the CLAT before.
I want to prepare for the CLAT again and not all my reasons are academic in nature (but a portion of them certainly are)
If this did work out, I'd be joining an NLU at the age of 21 with a 4 year gap between when I passed out of school and joined college. I really want to sit for the CLAT again and do well, I don't have a problem with graduating at 26 if it's from a good place but it's important for me to understand if this gap will negatively affect me in terms of recruitment and LLM applications so that I can make an informed decision on whether the trade off is worth devoting my time towards getting a better law school instead of internships/publications/studying DPC
I'm very confused about this and would be glad to have suggestions.
I'd only go if I got NLS/NALSAR, my question is if I did graduate from one of these two, will the 4-year gap hurt me from getting a job and/or LLM acceptance?
Because if that's the case I'll just stay here, where my job and/or LLM prospects are bad anyway.
- The crowd is getting older at NLUs
- Age generally does not matter in the legal profession
- As you have studied law for 3 years, you should do well appearing for the same papers (although first year has socio, pol science etc, and the standard at NLUs is much higher)
- It's silly of you to just aim for NLSIU/NALSAR and exclude NLUD,NUJS, as placements are at par.
However, my own view is that you should complete your course at try for LLM CLAT instead. The competition at NLUs is fierce, and you will regret it if you end up in the bottom of the batch.
Go for it.
1. Personally, I am not in favour of wasting 3 years to start law afresh at one of the NLUs you outlined in your post. You could easily cover up the gap by working a little hard in initial years of profession;
2. While age should not be a relevant criteria for recruitments, it certainly is a criteria for many scholarships for international studies, so you need to weigh the pros and cons carefully
Whatever you decide, put your heart and soul into it and I'm sure you'll do great !!