Technological University: Order for appointment of VC as per bill rejected by President: government to form search committee

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Extraordinary order of the Government to form a search committee for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala Technological University (KTU) according to the provisions of the bill passed by the Assembly and rejected by the President.

The President had rejected the bill to replace the current three-member search committee with a five-member committee including two government representatives. A five-member committee was constituted under the provisions of the now-expired Bill. The order without appointing even the members of the committee comes while the High Court is hearing the petition to appoint VCs in nine varsities today. The order was interpreted as being within the purview of the government under Article 162 of the Constitution.

Technological University VC Dr MS Rajasree was sacked by the Supreme Court in October 2022 due to irregularities in the appointment. The varsity did not provide the search committee representative despite repeated requests from the governor. The committee should have representatives from UGC, varsity and chancellor. The committee consists of one representative each from the UGC, the Vice-Chairman of the Higher Education Council, the Syndicate and two representatives from the Government. Efforts are being made to make those who are preferred, using the majority of government representatives, the VC.

Legal entanglement

• The aim of the government is to create a legal entanglement. The process can be extended till the end of the governor's term in September.
• When VCs are asked to be appointed, it can be conveyed that the action has been started. By this, the Governor can be prevented from taking action on his own.

Power vested in the Chancellor

• The decision, including the appointment of the VC, belongs to the Chancellor.
• It is illegal if the Chancellor obeys anyone else's interest or order.
• There is a definite separation between the Chancellor and the State Government in the law

Frequent setbacks

1. October 21, 2022-Technological University VC Dr MS Rajasree sacked by Supreme Court
2. November 14, 2022- High Court sacked Fisheries University VC Dr Riji John
3. November 30, 2023- Kannur University VC Dr Gopinath Ravindran was sacked by the Supreme Court.
4. March 21, 2024- High Court upheld the dismissal of Sanskrit VC Dr MV Narayanan by the Governor