New Delhi: The Kerala government has decided to file a review petition against the Supreme Court order cancelling the appointment of Dr M S Rajasree as Vice-Chancellor of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University.

It is learnt that the government will take further steps after deliberation with senior lawyers as the order will likely affect VC appointments in five other varsities within the state. It is also likely that pleas challenging the appointment of VCs in other varsities in the backdrop of the SC order may come up before the High Court in the coming days.

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The state government is also worried if the order will affect passing of varsity-related legislations and challenge federalism, said sources.

The government will be batting against two major elements in the judgement. The one pertains to the apex court holding that only UGC norms should be adhered in the appointment. While the other is related to search committee formation.

The government is of the opinion that UGC norms of the year 2010 are of just guiding nature and state legislations can be followed as per a Supreme Court verdict of 2015. Similarly, the government will contest that search committee related amendments of 2013 were not given due consideration in the judgement.

Meanwhile, the review petition will be adjudicated by the same bench that issued the order revoking Dr Rajasree’s appointment.