Thu Mar 27 16:17:47 UTC 2025: ## Madras High Court Upholds Minority Institutions’ Right to Choose Staff
**Chennai, March 27, 2025** – The Madras High Court ruled Thursday that the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations of 2018 do not apply to the appointment of staff in minority-run educational institutions. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh emphasized the judiciary’s crucial role in protecting the constitutional rights of minorities, stating that the court must act as a guardian of these rights to maintain India’s commitment to unity in diversity.
The ruling came in response to writ petitions filed by several Christian colleges in Tamil Nadu challenging the refusal of universities to approve appointments due to non-compliance with the 2018 regulations. The court agreed with the petitioners’ argument that the regulations, which mandate external members on selection committees, infringe on the right of minority institutions to manage their affairs and choose their staff, as affirmed by the Supreme Court in previous decisions. The judge cited Article 30(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right of minorities to establish and administer their educational institutions. He underscored that this right is not merely a formality, but a fundamental promise enshrined in the Constitution.
Justice Venkatesh’s judgment builds upon a 2011 High Court ruling that similar UGC regulations were inapplicable to minority institutions. The court held that the presence of external members in selection committees would dilute the autonomy of minority institutions to appoint staff possessing the necessary qualifications. The decision allows the 66 Assistant Professors and one Principal whose appointments were previously blocked to assume their positions.
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