M. Jagadesh Kumar, the JNU vice-chancellor mired in controversies related to alleged arbitrary and vindictive decisions and inaction on campus violence, is among those shortlisted for the post of University Grants Commission chairman.

Kumar, who has been on extension at JNU after his tenure ended a year ago, is among the candidates interviewed on Monday to helm the higher education regulator. The others shortlisted after the interview by a panel of experts headed by IIT Kanpur chairman K. Radhakrishnan are Prof. Nitin Karmalkar, VC of Savitribai Phule Pune University, and Prof. Avinash Chandra Pandey, director of the Inter-University Accelerator Centre, an autonomous research outfit of the UGC.

The post of UGC chairman has been vacant since December last year after Prof. D.P. Singh completed his tenure. The appointments committee of cabinet, which functions under the Prime Minister’s Office, is to select the chairman from among the shortlisted candidates.

The tenure of Kumar, considered close to the establishment, at JNU is replete with controversies since he took over in January 2016. Immediately after he assumed charge, the university discontinued the deprivation policy that gave extra weightage to admission seekers from backward regions to research courses such as MPhil and PhD.

In 2018, JNU outsourced the conduct of the entrance exam to the National Testing Agency, incurring a cost of Rs 9 crore, much higher than what it used to spend when it organised the test on its own.

There have also been allegations of financial irregularities and claims on finances without supporting audit documents with Kumar at the helm.

During Kumar’s tenure, over 150 legal cases have been filed by teachers, students and non-teaching staff against the VC and his administration. In the majority of the cases, the university has been found to have committed illegalities, the JNUTA alleged.

Prof. Moushumi Basu, secretary of the JNU Teachers’ Association, said most of the cases related to targeted actions such as chargesheets against teachers for taking part in protests, withholding of pension dues, denial of leave, appointment of juniors as chairpersons of centres and setting up inquiries.

She also alleged inaction in case of violence on the campus two years ago when outsiders had assaulted students protesting against a fee hike.

The Telegraph sent an email to VC Kumar requesting his version on the allegations against him. His response is awaited.