Thiruvananthapuram: The government has completely eliminated the role of the governor in the new ordinance for appointment of VC of Kerala Digital University. The government will form the VC search committee instead of the governor.

The members of the search committee will be from the government, Higher Education Council, State Council for Science and Technology, University Board of Governors and UGC. With this, the nomination of VC panel will be based solely on government’s interest. The influence of the central government will be limited to UGC representative. The committee will give the name to the governor based on the majority opinion. The government has ensured, through the ordinance, that the governor can appoint only one person from the panel recommended by the government as the VC.

Earlier, when the governor had the power to form the search committee, the Raj Bhavan was able to nominate an expert. Now the power to do so will be with the State Council for Science and Technology. Since the Board of Governors includes representatives of central government institutions, there is no guarantee that the state government’s interests will be protected. This was foreseen, resulting in the exclusion of the governor from the formation of search committee.

Although a similar amendment passed by the assembly earlier was decided to be implemented in universities under the Higher Education Department, the bill did not receive governor’s approval.

The government’s attitude towards Dr Ciza Thomas suggests she may be removed at the earliest. However, it is not clear whether the ordinance will be approved by the governor.

Governor's power in the UGC statute

The UGC’s draft statute of 2025 stipulates that the governor must form a search committee. The committee should also include the university chancellor and UGC representatives. The government’s move is to tighten its grip on the appointment of the VC of Digital University before this comes into effect.

The situation in Kerala

What is happening here is that the state government will form a VC search committee. With this, the nomination of the VC panel will be based solely on the government’s interest.