Kochi: Kerala High Court today (November 29, 2022) upheld the appointment of Dr Ciza Thomas as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU). She is eligible for an appointment. As the Chancellor of the Universities in the state, the Governor appointed Dr Thomas on November 3, as soon as the Supreme court cancelled the appointment of Dr M.S. Rajasree as the VC since her work was not in conformity with UGC norms.
The court order rejected the Government of Kerala (GoK) prayer against the appointment of Dr Thomas and stated that GoK could not intervene in the varsity affairs. VCs can not be appointed if they are not qualified as per UGC norms.
Court did not entertain the GoK’s suggestion to appoint Higher Education Secretary as the KTU’s VC as he is not an academician but a bureaucrat.
The court rejected the GoK’s prayer to appoint the PVC as the VC. The court made it clear that PVC ceases to hold that position from the moment VC moves out.
This is another grave blow to the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) regime of Chief Minister and CPM Supremo Pinarayi Vijayan. His government loses every court movement against the correct actions of the Governor. And every court decision vindicates the actions and intentions of the Governor.
But, unfortunately, the Pinarayi regime is not ready to read the writings on the wall hence going to move the Division Bench of the High Court. That means they do not mind spending lakhs of rupees for the sake of their false prestige when the state’s treasury has turned dry and the government cannot pay for the people’s welfare.
