Thiruvananthapuram : Amidst an ongoing tussle between Raj Bhavan and the left government in Kerala over matters related to administration of universities, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has appointed search committees for the selection of Vice Chancellors for the six universities in the state.
As per the Raj Bhavan sources, the notifications were issued by the governor’s secretariat for the selection of vice chancellors for Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Agricultural University and the Malayalam University.
In December 2023, the Supreme Court upheld supremacy of governor in appointing to the top post in state universities, with governor Arif Mohammed Khan fast tracking the process of selecting permanent vice-chancellors. However, this was met with stiff resistance from various left student bodies such as SFI, AIYF who alleged that the governor is trying to appoint Vice Chancellors with RSS background.
The governor, in his capacity as chancellor, had directed the universities to urgently propose senate nominees to the search-cum-selection committees to choose new vice-chancellors.
According to separate notifications for the six universities, the governor took the decision using his power as chancellor conferred by provisions of the University Act, and in compliance with the judgement of the Kerala High Court dated December 8, 2022.
The committees have been directed to make their recommendations within a period of three months from the date of notification. As per rules governing most of the state universities, the vice chancellor is selected by a panel comprising nominees of the chancellor (Governor), University Grants Commission (UGC) and the senate/syndicate of the university concerned. Owing to pressure from the government, pro-LDF varsity bodies had delayed nominating their representatives to the search panel.
Amidst an ongoing tussle between Raj Bhavan and the left government in Kerala over matters related to administration of universities, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has appointed search committees for the selection of Vice Chancellors for the six universities in the state. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
