Guv-govt spat in Kerala leaves appointment of VCs in state universities in limbo

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ongoing spat between Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the federal government has put in limbo the appointment of vice-chancellors by means of the UGC-stipulated choice course of in numerous state universities. 

Though interim appointments have been made to the VC put up in a number of universities, everlasting appointments have been saved in back-burn with each the governor and the federal government refusing to budge.
A current instance of this impasse was seen within the case of the Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University. 

Though the incumbent vice-chancellor’s time period ended on February 28, the structure of a selection-cum-search committee to decide on a brand new VC didn’t bear fruit. The state meeting had in September final 12 months handed the University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which elevated the variety of members within the VC choice panel from three to 5. This was aimed to present the federal government an higher hand within the VC choice. Since the Bill didn’t obtain the governor’s assent and change into regulation, it was apparent {that a} three-member panel would prevail.

“The government began the process of constituting a five-member search committee to select the VC for the Malayalam University under the premise that the Assembly had already passed a Bill to this effect. The governor, however, played by the book and turned it down,” stated a high official of the Higher Education division. 

Disregarding the names proposed by the federal government for the put up of non permanent VC, the governor gave the cost of the college to MG University Vice-Chancellor Sabu Thomas. Ironically, Sabu was among the many VCs who had been served discover for removing by Khan within the wake of the Supreme Court verdict insisting on adhering to UGC norms in VC choice. 

According to sources, Governor Khan has change into further cautious about VC appointment after the setback within the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) case. Though the High Court didn’t particularly order the removing of Ciza Thomas, who was handpicked by Khan, it dominated that the appointment needs to be made in session with the federal government. 

Meanwhile, the tenure of the vice-chancellors of Cusat and MG University is slated to finish on April 25 and May 27, respectively, and no preparations have been made for constituting search committees to decide on their successors. This would result in VCs of different universities being given cost of those two varsities as properly until choice is made to the put up as per the UGC-stipulated course of. 

“The state government is adamant to appoint VCs of its choice in universities while the governor insists on following the UGC regulations. This has resulted in the appointment of vice-chancellors, through a proper selection process, being deadlocked indefinitely. The governor-government spat is poised to erode the standards of our universities in the long run,” stated R S Sasikumar of the Save University Campaign Committee.

Universities with stop-gap VCs

Kerala University
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies
Kerala Agricultural University
Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ongoing spat between Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the federal government has put in limbo the appointment of vice-chancellors by means of the UGC-stipulated choice course of in numerous state universities. 

Though interim appointments have been made to the VC put up in a number of universities, everlasting appointments have been saved in back-burn with each the governor and the federal government refusing to budge.
A current instance of this impasse was seen within the case of the Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University. 

Though the incumbent vice-chancellor’s time period ended on February 28, the structure of a selection-cum-search committee to decide on a brand new VC didn’t bear fruit. The state meeting had in September final 12 months handed the University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which elevated the variety of members within the VC choice panel from three to 5. This was aimed to present the federal government an higher hand within the VC choice. Since the Bill didn’t obtain the governor’s assent and change into regulation, it was apparent {that a} three-member panel would prevail.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

“The government began the process of constituting a five-member search committee to select the VC for the Malayalam University under the premise that the Assembly had already passed a Bill to this effect. The governor, however, played by the book and turned it down,” stated a high official of the Higher Education division. 

Disregarding the names proposed by the federal government for the put up of non permanent VC, the governor gave the cost of the college to MG University Vice-Chancellor Sabu Thomas. Ironically, Sabu was among the many VCs who had been served discover for removing by Khan within the wake of the Supreme Court verdict insisting on adhering to UGC norms in VC choice. 

According to sources, Governor Khan has change into further cautious about VC appointment after the setback within the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) case. Though the High Court didn’t particularly order the removing of Ciza Thomas, who was handpicked by Khan, it dominated that the appointment needs to be made in session with the federal government. 

Meanwhile, the tenure of the vice-chancellors of Cusat and MG University is slated to finish on April 25 and May 27, respectively, and no preparations have been made for constituting search committees to decide on their successors. This would result in VCs of different universities being given cost of those two varsities as properly until choice is made to the put up as per the UGC-stipulated course of. 

“The state government is adamant to appoint VCs of its choice in universities while the governor insists on following the UGC regulations. This has resulted in the appointment of vice-chancellors, through a proper selection process, being deadlocked indefinitely. The governor-government spat is poised to erode the standards of our universities in the long run,” stated R S Sasikumar of the Save University Campaign Committee.

Universities with stop-gap VCs

Kerala University
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies
Kerala Agricultural University
Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University