Kerala High Court Directs Calicut University To Convene Senate Within 30 Days To Replace Recused Member In VC Search Committee

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (November 26) directed the University of Calicut to convene a Senate meeting within 30 days to find a replacement for Prof. Sabu A., who has expressed his unwillingness to be a member of the Search-Cum-Selection committee that has the duty to select a vice-chancellor for the varsity.

Justice V.G. Arun was considering the State's plea that had challenged the Chancellor's notifications constituting the Search-Cum-Selection committee and inviting applications from persons interested to hold the position of the Vice-Chancellor.

The counsel for the 2nd respondent University had informed the Court yesterday that since the committee did not have the minimum of 3 members with Prof. Sabu recusing himself, the procedure is to convene a meeting of the Senate to elect a new member to the committee.

Hearing the submission, the Court had ordered:

"Considering that the selection for the post of Vice Chancellor, which is of utmost importance, has come to a standstill, the 2nd respondent shall convene the meeting of the Senate of the Calicut University to elect a new member to the Search-Cum-Selection Committee within thirty days of production of a copy of this order. As the members elected to the Search-Cum-Selection Committee earlier were unwilling to sit in the Committee, it will be appropriate to obtain the consent of the elected member, before forwarding the decision of the Senate to the Chancellor for approval."

According to the State's plea, the issuance of a notification inviting applications to the post ought to have been in exercise of the executive functions of the Government in terms of Articles 162 and 246 of the Constitution read with Entry 32 of List II of the Seventh Schedule.

The Advocate General argued that the selection process can commence only after a properly constituted Search-Cum-Selection Committee is in place. He submitted that applications ought not to have been invited by the Chancellor since that comes only after the committee is formed.

The senior counsel for the Chancellor, on the other hand, submitted that the Chancellor is empowered to invite applications from interested persons, and that the role of the Committee is confined to the selection of the most suitable person from among the applicants.

Considering these submissions, the Court further observed:

"Undoubtedly, the process of selection to the post of Vice Chancellor cannot commence without the Search-CumSelection Committee being in place. At the same time, applications having been invited, the receipt of applications is not interdicted, but made subject to the outcome of the writ petition. It is made clear that the selection process shall commence only after the SearchCum-Selection Committee is duly constituted."

The case is posted for further consideration on January 5, 2026.

Case No: WP(C) No. 42795/2025

Case Title: State of Kerala v. 

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