Thiruvananthapuram: Barely a few hours after the Supreme Court issued a crucial verdict in the reappointment row at Kannur University, outgoing Vice-Chancellor Gopinath Raveendran announced that he would be joining the Jamia Millia Islamia University as a full-time history professor. 

Earlier today, the apex court quashed the Kerala government’s decision to reappoint Gopinath Raveendran as Kannur University VC by violating existing norms. 

He publicly endorsed the Supreme Court's decision and announced that he would not file a review petition.

“I do concur with the court's decision. A resignation is no longer necessary or relevant. I will join as a history professor at Jamia Millia Islamia University tomorrow. My first tenure as VC of Kannur University ended in 2021. On that day, reappointment proceedings were initiated, although not at my request. There were no procedural difficulties in this case, in my opinion. Prior to this, other VCs in India were reappointed in a similar fashion,” he said.

When asked if he was disappointed by the ruling, he said that he had been able to contribute to the progress of Kannur University over the years but that there were still a few things that needed to be done. When questioned if political leaders were consciously attempting to paint the university in a negative way, Gopinath refused to respond.  

On Kannur University not having a Vice Chancellor right now, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said that arrangements will made soon.

"We will make immediate arrangements. Immediate arrangements as soon as the judgement of the Supreme Court reaches us, we will make the necessary arrangements," he said.

The Supreme Court earlier today quashed the notification relating to the reappointment of Kannur University Vice-Chancellor.
The top court also ruled that the appointment was vitiated by the interference of the state.