The reinstatement of Professor Pal Ahluwalia by the University of the South Pacific (USP) Council is ‘illegal’ Fiji’s Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told Fiji’s parliament last week.

According to the Fiji Times, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the appointment of Pal Ahluwalia was illegal under the Charter and the regulations of USP.

“As the contract says that when a person’s contract is terminated, because of the fact their work permit is cancelled, the contract automatically gets terminated.”

However, the USP unions, staff and student associations have challenged the AG’s claims.

“Comments by the AG that the appointment was illegal because it was not in accordance with the university’s charter, was not true because the USP Charter, statutes and ordinances were quite clear that the VC did not have to be based at the Laucala Bay Campus, Suva.”

USP stated the governing body of the regional institution was the USP Council, and that their priority during these challenging times was learning and teaching delivery.

In a subsequent legal opinion, a law firm stated he could be reappointed, whereas the regulations in the charter stated there was a particular process through which the vice-chancellor was appointed.

While Professor Ahluwalia was Vice Chancellor at the university in Suva, he reported alleged financial mismanagement by a former USP vice chancellor and pro chancellor.

He was subsequently removed from his home along with his wife in the middle of the night and deported by the Fiji Government.

The reinstatement of Professor Ahluwalia will now see him based at the USP campus in Samoa.