VCs at RSS event: Kerala Govt’s displeasure confined to letters as no power to act

Thiruvananthapuram: Although several leaders, including Chief Minister V D Satheesan, criticised the participation of three Vice-Chancellors in an RSS event, the state government remains powerless to take punitive action against them. As Chancellor, the Governor is the sole appointing authority for Vice-Chancellors, meaning any disciplinary action must come exclusively from the Chancellor's office. According to university statutes, action can only be taken against VCs following an inquiry into corruption or moral turpitude. The current controversy, however, does not fall under these categories.

The Vice-Chancellors maintain that they attended RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's lecture in a purely personal capacity following individual invitations.

The government’s direct involvement in the university system is restricted to the Higher Education Minister holding the ex-officio post of Pro-Chancellor. Due to the autonomous nature of these institutions, the government cannot intervene through other channels.

Beyond delaying university funding to signal its discontent, the government has few options left. At most, it can issue letters to the VCs expressing its displeasure. A similar situation occurred in July 2025, when VCs attended the RSS 'Jnana Sabha' in Kochi. Although the then-minister R Bindu countered that their actions were inappropriate, no government action followed.

While Pinarayi Vijayan has now spoken out against it as Leader of the Opposition, he had abstained from reacting during his tenure as Chief Minister.