Show-cause notice to Veterinary VC: Appointment of three Vice-Chancellors may be cancelled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the governor serving a show-cause notice to Veterinary University Vice-Chancellor MR Saseendranath for violating UGC rules, the appointment of three VCs in the state may be voided. UGC had earlier declared the appointment of Open University VC Mubarak Pasha and Digital University VC Saji Gopinath illegal. Both the appointments will be revoked by the Governor in this case. This is followed by action against Veterinary VC. MR Saseendranath is under suspension following the death of Pookode Veterinary College student Siddharth. Saseendranath had approached the High Court challenging the suspension, but the court upheld the Governor's action.

The Governor issued the notice to clarify if there is any reason not to revoke the appointment of MR Saseendranath as the Vice Chancellor of the Veterinary University. Similar to the Fisheries University VC appointment, Sashindranath was appointed avoiding the UGC nominee. The appointment of the VC of Fisheries University was quashed by the High Court Division Bench. Open University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mubarak Pasha and Digital University Vice-Chancellor Dr Saji Gopinath have been issued show-cause notices, but further proceedings have been suspended pending an explanation from the UGC. Saji Gopinath has additional charge of Technical University also. Hence, the digital and technical universities will have new vice-chancellors with the appointment voided.

UGC Rules

First Vice-Chancellors in universities can be appointed on the recommendation of the government without a search committee. However, VCs can be appointed only as per UGC rules after the universities get UGC approval.