Quo-warranto plea creates another entanglement in appointment of three VCs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The quo-warranto petition to disqualify Calicut University Vice-Chancellor Dr MJ Jayaraj has caused another complexity even though the governor's order to oust him was stayed by court. Argument on the quo-warrant petition pointing to the inclusion of the Chief Secretary in the search committee for the appointment of the VC has been completed and the order will be soon issued. Open and digital VCs will also be fired by the governor soon.

The UGC rule is that no one connected with the government should be in the search committee. But despite this, the chief secretary was included in the search committee of Calicut VC. The position of UGC is that the Chief Secretary is not an academic expert. In this case, the governor will also file an appeal seeking the annulment of the appointment.

At the same time, the move to name Dr. MV Narayanan as the VC of the Sanskrit University by dumping Dr KK Geethakumari, a professor from scheduled caste was busted open by the High Court order. Geethakumari was the Dean and Head of the Department of Sanskrit at Calicut.

2 more VCs to be sacked

The governor, who has completed the hearing to remove Open Varsity VC Mubarak Pasha and Digital Varsity VC Sajigopinath, is awaiting the UGC's opinion. A argument is that the government can make the appointment as it is the first VC in both the places. However, the UGC has made it clear that the government can appoint the first VC but only until the varsity gets UGC approval.