Appointment Dr K Sivaprasad as interim VC also unsustainable; why government is so hostile towards Dr. Ciza Thomas, asks HC 

KOCHI: The High Court has issued an order stating that the Governor's action in appointing Dr. Ciza Thomas as the interim Vice Chancellor of the Kerala Digital University is also unsustainable. The University Act states that the Governor, who is also the Chancellor, should appoint a person from the list provided by the government to fill the temporary vacancy of the VC. This has been upheld by the High Court Division Bench. Justice P Gopinath's order made this clear.

The court had also ruled that the Chancellor's action in appointing Dr. K. Sivaprasad as the interim VC of the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University was also unsustainable for the same reason. However, since the terms of both of them are ending on the 27th, they have been allowed to continue till then. The order that has now been issued is a clarification on the Digital University issue.

The High Court asked why the government is so hostile towards Dr. Ciza Thomas. The question was asked by a division bench of Justice A. Muhammad Mushtaq and Justice Johnson John while considering a petition filed by Dr. Ciza against the withholding of retirement benefits. The case was adjourned to today for the government's explanation.

The complaint in the petition is that Ciza Thomas is not being granted benefits despite the order of the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. The petitioner, who retired while holding the post of Vice Chancellor of the Technical University, was later appointed as the interim VC of the Digital University on the instructions of the Chancellor.