VC appointment: SC move may affect 5 universities

Thiruvananthapuram: The Supreme Court’s decision to cancel the appointment of Dr Rajasree MS as the Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University may affect five universities in Kerala. Cancelling her appointment, the top court had said that the search committee had not recommended three names to the Chancellor as prescribed by the UGC, but instead unanimously recommended Rajasree.

This move by the apex court might affect the appointment of VCs at Kannur, Kalady, Fisheries, MG and Kerala universities. 

The save university campaign committee has filed a complaint with the Governor pointing out that the VC appointments at these universities did not follow the UGC guideline.

If the Governor decides to re-examine the appointments, it will be a setback for the universities and the government.

As per the UGC guideline,the search committee has to recommend a three to five-member panel, from which the Governor, who is the chancellor, appoints a member as the VC. The save university campaign committee has indicated that the first appointment of the Kannur University VC was not from the panel. 

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had stayed the appointment of the VC of Kalady Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit for two months as the search committee was excluded. There was no panel for the appointment of VCs at Fisheries, MG and Kerala universities too. 

As the Kerala University VC’s tenure expires on Monday, there is no scope for a reconsideration of his appointment. But the Governor can ask for a report on other appointments.