Universities in Kerala transitioning to in-charge administration

Thiruvananthapuram: With the Governor's confrontation with the state government continuing and related cases pending in court, all universities in Kerala will be under in-charge administration in the coming month. 

At present, only the Health and Digital Universities have permanent Vice Chancellors. Digital University VC Dr Saji Gopinath will step down on October 16, and Health University VC Dr Mohanan Kunnummel will step down on October 29. This will lead to a situation where no university will have a permanent VC.

The High Court will hear the case related to VC appointments on Tuesday. Dr Mary George has filed a petition requesting directions for VC appointments. The High Court's decision in this case is critical as the Supreme Court had earlier clarified that the authority to appoint VCs lies with the Chancellor. 

In the governing bodies of the universities, the CPM holds a majority. And both the government and the party maintain that in-charge VCs are sufficient. Although a Bill granting the government greater control over VC appointments was passed by the Legislative Assembly, the Governor did not approve it and forwarded it to the President for consideration. The President returned the Bill, and no further action was taken in this regard by the state.

Disputes of several kinds

The Supreme Court had clarified that the Chancellor is the one to decide on the VC appointment during the hearing of a case related to the appointment of the VC of Kannur University. The SC had also ruled that it is not the University Rules, but the UGC Regulations which are important in the VC appointment. It was clarified in the judgement, removing KTU VC Dr M S Rajasree.

Accordingly, while the Governor took the initiative in forming a search committee for VC appointments, universities in the state questioned this. The argument from the Raj Bhavan is that since the Chancellor is the appointing authority for VCs, the Governor can form a search committee.

The search committee formed by the Governor for VC appointments was, however, questioned by the government, following which the High Court intervened. The government argued that the UGC Regulations do not specify who should form the search committee. 

Parallel search committees were formed in six universities, including the KTU and Malayalam universities, for VC appointment. With no ending in sight for the ongoing Governor-Government tussle over the same, the High Court's ruling will be crucial in Vice Chancellor appointments.