Appointment of Technological University VC: Tensions escalate between Governor and government

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Higher Education Department issuing a notification inviting applications for appointment of Vice Chancellor of Technological University (KTU), tension has again escalated between the government and the Governor. Earlier, both the Governor and the government had formed search committees to find those eligible as VCs. The government later approached the High Court and obtained a stay against the Governor's committee. Following this, it issued the notification inviting applications for the appointment of Vice-Chancellor.

However, the Governor is of the opinion that the state government has no role in the appointment of the VC. Even if a panel is provided, the appointment must be made by the Governor. Hence, the conflict is likely to intensify. The university has been without a Vice-Chancellor for more than two weeks. The Governor, who did not approve the panel provided by the government for the temporary charge of the Vice-Chancellor, has approached the High Court against the government. The Governor's stance is that, as the appointing authority, he is responsible for forming a search committee and issuing the notification.

However, the government points out that there is no clarity on the formation of the search committee in the UGC and university regulations. The government's committee consists of five members, including the representative of the UGC. According to the UGC rules, there should be a representative of the UGC in the committee and the appointment should be from a panel of three to five members. The search committee under the University Act consists of Board-of-Governance, AICTE representatives and the Chief Secretary.

According to the Supreme Court order, the Chief Secretary should not be there in the committee. However, the government committee comprises former CUSAT VC Dr KN Madhusudhan (university representative), Prof. Kshihi Bhushandas (UGC representative), Prof. T Pradeep (Higher Education Council representative), Prof. PG Sankaran and Prof Sabu Thomas (Government representatives). The governor will challenge the validity of this committee in the High Court.