The vice-chancellors of nine Kerala universities have approached the High Court after an order from the governor asked them to resign. The order came after a Supreme Court order asked the Vice-Chancellor of APJ Technical University to resign in violation of UGC norms on recruitment of VCs.
Leaving the verdict in place, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan appointed Vice-Chancellors of nine universities, namely Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Research, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Sri Shankarachar Sanskrit University ‘i, University of Calicut, Tunchat Ezhutachan Malayalam University.
The governor’s office said that among them five vice chancellors were asked to go as they were chosen without names during the selection process. The other four were selected through a process in which prominent subject matter experts were not present on the selection committee and were therefore asked to tender their resignations.
The ruling LDF in Kerala on Sunday announced a series of campaigns including “massive protests” against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, accusing him of trying to implement the “Sangh Parivar agenda” in the state’s universities.
Letters sent to the vice-chancellors of nine universities asking them to tender their resignations by 11:30 a.m. on October 24. Letters were also sent to university registrars.
VC opposed this decision and called it unprecedented. The Kerala High Court will hold a special hearing at 4:00 pm to hear the VCs’ petition against the Governor’s orders.
Kannur University executive candidate Gopinath Ravindar termed the allegations against him false. “I have received the decision of Kerala Governor Arid Mohammad Khan, but I will not tender my resignation. A VC’s registration is based on either financial misconduct or misconduct, neither of which was the case here. This is a false allegation,” ANI quoted him as saying.
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