Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India]: Amidst the ongoing tussle between Governor and the Left government, the Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to bring in an ordinance to remove Governor Arif Mohammad Khan from the post of Chancellor. However, the State Cabinet is planning to bring in an expert in place of the Chancellor. The decision came after Governor Arif Mohammad Khan sought the resignations of vice-chancellors of all nine universities in the state. As per an order issued by the Kerala Governor- Vice-Chancellors of the University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, University of Calicut and Thunachath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University have been asked to resign from their posts.
Later the VCs of nine universities moved the High Court challenging the Governor’s order to tender their resignations. The Governor had also appointed Ciza Thomas as Vice Chancellor of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) in Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s government had requested the High Court to stay the appointment ordered by Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan, Chancellor of the state universities. However, the court on Tuesday declined to keep the position. The Supreme Court in October sacked Dr Rajasree MS from the Vice Chancellor post, citing a violation of UGC norms.
A bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar allowed the appeal filed by Professor Sreejith P.S. challenging the Kerala High Court order dated August 2, 2021.As per the UGC Regulations, the Visitor/Chancellor shall appoint the Vice Chancellor out of the panel of names recommended by the Search Committee. Therefore, when recommended did not recommend only one title and the board of words, the Chancellor had no option to consider the terms of the other candidates, the top court observed. The supreme court noted that the appointment of the respondent Rajasree could be said to be dehors or contrary to the provisions of the UGC Regulations and even to the University Act 2015, ANI reported.
