Governor asserts formation of VC appointment search committee, own committee if no representatives provided

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor has once again urged the Syndicate and Senate representatives to promptly form search committees for Vice-Chancellor appointment.

Due to disagreements with the Governor, the government suggests varsities not provide representatives to the search committee. The Governor has sent letters to Kerala, MG, Cusat, Kannur, Malayalam, Technical, Agriculture and Fisheries Varsities.

Senate and Syndicate must convene a meeting within one month to appoint a representative. Otherwise, the search committee will be formed based on the Supreme Court order including representatives from the Chancellor, UGC, Senate or Syndicate. Despite the UGC giving representatives to the search committees of three varsities, the government has remained silent.

In Kerala, MG, Kannur and Agricultural Universities, the Senate and elsewhere the Syndicate has the authority to appoint the Search Committee representative.

Kerala Senate plans to meet on the 16th. VC suggests the Registrar call the Senate on the 16th to appoint a search committee representative for the Kerala VC appointment. Even if Left members do not participate, the presence of Congress and BJP members will constitute a quorum of 25 members. A search committee representative can be elected even if Left members object. Governor suggested four times, but no action was taken. High Court blocked the two-member search committee constituted by the Governor without a Senate representative.

Governor has not signed bills to remove the governor's position as Chancellor and make the search committee five members. Legal advice suggests it is illegal to appoint a representative of the search committee due to a government case in the Supreme Court. Senate calls for rejection.