VCs under fire asks Kerala HC to quash Governor's show-cause notice, Kerala Governor , kerala vice-chancellor, latest news, Arif Mohammad Khan, high court

02 November 2022, 11:54 AM IST

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Kerala High Court (File photo) | Mathrubhumi

Kochi: In a petition filed in Kerala High Court, vice-chancellors of various universities stated that Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan does not hold the power to send a show cause notice demanding an explanation for not resigning from their offices.

Meanwhile, the last date for vice-chancellors to respond to the show-cause notice is November 3. Amidst this, six VCs, along with the retired VC of Kerala University Mahadevan Pillai, moved a petition in High Court on Wednesday.

They pointed out that they can be removed from their office only after judges of the High Court or the Supreme Court conduct an investigation directly into allegations of misappropriation of funds and serious misconduct. Besides, they told the court that the Governor has no legal authority to send such a show-cause notice. Therefore, the VCs requested the court to quash the governor's show cause notice and that the governor's move would not stand before the law.

The top court on October 21 had quashed the appointment of the VC of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University saying that as per the University Grants Commission (UGC), the search committee constituted by the state should have recommended a panel of not less than three suitable people among eminent people in the field of engineering science to the chancellor but, instead it sent only one name.

Upholding this order, Khan had called for resignation of VCs whose names were the only ones recommended for appointment and also those who were selected by a committee of which the Chief Secretary of the state was a member, terming both as a violation of UGC regulations.