KTU interim VC appointment: Merit in govt’s claim, says court, governor seeks more time to reply

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has accepted state government’s plea seeking cancellation of the Governor's act of appointing Dr Ciza Thomas as the interim vice chancellor of the Technical University. The court’s action observed that there is a legal problem in the appointment and that there is merit in the government's claim. The AG had informed the court in detail about the educational qualifications required for the VC. After this, Justice Devan Ramachandran, who considered the case, clarified that there is prima facie legal problem in the appointment and there is merit in the government's claim.

The governor sought more time to reply to the plea. The governor's lawyer requested the court that since he is a new counsel, more time is needed to reply. A lawyer also appeared for Ciza Thomas.

The court said that litigations and disputes regarding VCs should never affect the future of children and demanded that the UGC state its stand on the appointment of VCs. The court has made the UGC a voluntary party in the plea. The UGC has to give its stand on whether the Governor's order is against the rules. All the parties have been directed to file an affidavit by Wednesday and provide details about the qualifications of the persons nominated by the government for the post of VC. The government has to recommend the VCs but Ciza Thomas was appointed by the governor of his own will.

Ciza Thomas was appointed as the interim VC after the Supreme Court annulled the appointment of Dr M S Rajasree, who was the VC of the Technical University. Ciza Thomas, senior joint director in the technical education department, was given the temporary charge of VC by the governor, rejecting the recommendations of the government.