Rohtak, Feb. 18 -- A standoff has emerged between the Haryana government and Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) vice-chancellor Rajbir Singh over the issuance of appointment letters to 11 faculty members without prior government approval.

In a February 17 communication, the additional chief secretary of the higher education department directed the vice-chancellor and registrar to postpone the upcoming 304th Executive Council (EC) meeting scheduled for February 18. The government alleged that the 302nd EC meeting was held despite instructions to reschedule it and that appointment letters were issued in violation of explicit directions.

According to the letter, the university had been instructed on January 14 not to issue appointment orde...