Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan removed Vice Chancellors of Calicut University, Dr M.K Jayaraj and Dr M.V Narayanan of Sanskrit University. 

Earlier, the High Court granted Raj Bhavan a six-week period to decide on the removal of the VCs after conducting a hearing, which will conclude on Thursday. The court order came on the pleas moved by several VCs who were issued show cause notices by the governor asking why they should not be removed from their posts as their appointments were allegedly in violation of the UGC norms.

Dr M S Rajasree, the Vice-Chancellor of the A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University,  was removed from her post by the apex court in 2022 in violation of UGC norms. The court also observed that the search committee to select the VC did not recommend three names to the Chancellor as stipulated by the UGC. Instead, it unanimously recommended Rajasree. 

Later, the Governor served a show-cause notice to 11 Vice-Chancellors in Kerala who similarly received appointments. Though seven of the 11 VCs later resigned, Dr M.K Jayaraj, Dr M.V Narayanan and Dr Reji John continued to hold office. Subsequently, Reji John was removed as VC of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS). 

The chief secretary was involved in the selection process for the Calicut University VC appointment. However, for the Sanskrit University, only Narayanan's name was included in the list submitted to the Governor.