'This Trend Not Correct' : Kerala Governor Questions Supreme Court's Move To Select University VCs

Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar has questioned the Supreme Court's decision to step in and select Vice Chancellors for two State Universities, stating that under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, the power to appoint Vice Chancellors vests with the Chancellor.

The Governor's comments have come in the backdrop of the Supreme Court last week deciding to pick the VCs for the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, and the University of Digital Sciences Innovation and Technology, in view of the ongoing stalemate between the State Government and the Governor regarding the appointments. The Chancellor of these Universities is the Governor as per the relevant State Acts.

The bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan had appointed a committee headed by Justice (retired) Sudhanshu Dhulia to recommend a panel of names to the Government and the Governor. As no consensus emerged between the two on the recommended candidates, the Bench last week directed the committee to submit the names to the Court in a sealed cover. The matter has been listed for further consideration on December 18.

In a public function yesterday, the Governor, questioning the Supreme Court's move, referred to the judgment in the Kannur University case of 2023 in which the re-appointment of the VC was quashed on the ground that there was "unwarranted interference by the Government."

The Governor said that the “trend” of courts making appointments despite the University Acts conferring such authority on the Chancellor was “not correct.”

"Here in our Kerala, the university matters are always being discussed everywhere. Kannur judgment is everywhere. Everybody knows what the judgment was. Three judges were sitting there, and they delivered a judgment. And it honours that UGC has its right. It honours that the Chancellor has the right to select the Vice Chancellors. But after some time, the very same provisions are being ignored by the judges, by the Supreme Court...Even if the Kerala University Act says it is to be appointed and done by the chancellor, the court says no, we will do it. The UGC says it is to be done by the Chancellor, the court says no, we will do it. This trend itself is not correct...These are well-established institutions in our country. These are to be honoured. We have to honour all such institutions. We cannot say no to them. Let them do their job...," the Governor said.