The Kerala High Court on Monday set aside the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, observing that his appointment was approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) is against the norms. This decision justifies Governor Arif Mohammad Khan’s move to seek the resignation of 11 vice-chancellors in the state over the violation. This is a blow to the government which is opposing the Governor on this issue.
A bench of Justices S. Manikumar and Justice Shaji P. Chale observed that while appointing Dr. K. Riji John as the Vice-Chancellor of KUFOS, the UGC rule, which mandates the Chancellor to send a list of three or more claimants.
The bench said the search-cum-selection committee recommending only John’s name for appointment was also against the rules. The bench said that the Chancellor may constitute a selection committee to initiate the process of selection of the new Vice-Chancellor. It clarified that the UGC norms should be strictly followed in the selection of the Vice-Chancellor.
It is worth mentioning that Khan had sought John’s resignation on the ground that the Supreme Court in another similar case had held that the selection committee constituted by the state government as per UGC norms should recommend the names of at least three suitable contenders. They had sent a show-cause notice to John asking why he should be allowed to continue as vice-chancellor in the wake of the apex court setting aside the appointment of vice-chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University citing violation of UGC norms.
This decision of the High Court has come on two petitions challenging the appointment of John
BJP and Congress have welcomed the decision. Both said that this decision is a big setback for the government. However, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said that the decision would be legally reviewed and appropriate steps would be taken thereafter.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran said the decision was a setback for the LDF government, which was allegedly appointing people of its choice to key positions in universities. He said in a statement that there is a need to conduct a detailed inquiry into all such appointments. BJP state president K. Surendran said it shows the governor’s stand was right and the ruling Left Front was wrong.
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