Shimla, Aug. 28 -- The Himachal Pradesh High Court has struck down provisions that gave the state government a decisive role in appointing vice-chancellors (VCs) of the state's agricultural universities.

The HC has declared the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (Amendment) Act, 2023, and the Rules framed under it in 2026 unconstitutional and void ab initio, holding that provisions governing the appointment of vice-chancellors directly conflict with the mandatory University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018.

The court also held that a 2025 amendment to the Act was unconstitutional and ordered a fresh selection process for two VCs strictly under University Grants Commission (UGC) norms. The di...