Government-Governor consensus not likely: Tech-Digital VCs to be appointed by Supreme Court?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although the Supreme Court has directed the government and the Governor to reach a consensus on the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the state's technical and digital university, the possibility of that happening is quite low. Governor RV Arlekar is not ready to make the appointment as per the list submitted by the Chief Minister. The government has decided to inform the Supreme Court that Dr. Ciza Thomas, recommended by the Governor, is ineligible. If there is no consensus, the Supreme Court will make the appointment of the VC in Kerala as in Bengal.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan prioritised the names from the Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia Committee appointed by the Supreme Court for Vice-Chancellor (VC) posts at two universities and sent this list to the Governor. In the list of the Dhulia Committee, the priority was given to Dr Bindu Govindaram, Dr C Sathishkumar, Dr Ciza Thomas, and Dr Priyachandran for the Technical University, and Dr Ciza Thomas, Dr Jinjos, Dr Priyachandran, Dr Rajasree, and Dr Sajigopinath for the Digital University. The Chief Minister determined the priority and revised the list. In that list, Dr Sathish Kumar, Dr Bindu, Dr Priyachandran, and Dr Ciza Thomas were included in the Technical University. In the Digital University, Dr Saji Gopinath, Dr Rajsree, Dr Jinjos, Dr Priyachandran, and Dr Ciza Thomas were included. A special note was also given not to appoint Ciza.

The Governor's position is that he is the appointing authority and the Chief Minister's list cannot be accepted. The Governor has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that he will appoint Dr. Bindu as the VC in the Technical University and Dr. Ciza in the Digital University. The Governor's argument is that he is firm on this and that he has decided to appoint the first names in the recommendation of the Dhulia Committee appointed by the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the government will take a stand against the Chancellor in the Supreme Court. Dr. Ciza Thomas is disqualified as she has previously faced disciplinary action. There is a case against her for illegally acquiring minutes from the Technical University. Ciza Thomas has tarnished the reputation of the university by demanding a CAG investigation into the Digital University. The government will also point out that she walked out during a syndicate meeting at Kerala University.