Governor gains strength, government weakens

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government found itself on the defensive in its battle against the Governor with the High Court quashing the selection of Dr Priya Varghese, wife of Chief Minister's Private Secretary KK Ragesh, as Kannur University Associate Professor. It must be noted that the High Court quashed Priya's appointment soon after the Supreme Court and the High Court sacked two vice-chancellors, who were close to the government. Successive court judgments in his favour have strengthened Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.

After the Supreme Court annulled Dr MS Rajasree's appointment as the VC of the Technical University, the High Court annulled Riji John's appointment as the VC of the Fisheries University. Now Priya Varghese is also disqualified.

The court rulings add strength to the governor's claims that the government is making political interferences in the universities. It gives legal and technical validity to the position taken by the Governor on the basis of UGC rules. The court also said that the UGC rules should be followed. The political struggle of the Left Front and the government against the Governor on the university issue is weakening with this.

The Governor had opposed Priya Varghese's appointment from the beginning. However, Left leaders, including the Chief Minister, were justifying the appointment.

The Left Front is arguing that the central government is using the Governor to control the higher education sector in the state and that the Governor must be removed from the post of Chancellor to prevent this. The verdict disqualifying Priya Varghese has weakened this argument. The Governor became more acceptable even to those who considered many of his moves as over-the-top political games. On the other hand, the image of the government has faded.

Setback for CM

• The court ruling is a setback for CM Pinarayi Vijayan who had asked whether qualified should not be appointed because they happen to be relatives of his office staff
• The governor can also take action against the nine VCs who are still in service in the universities
• The administration will struggle to justify the nepotism in appointments when the legislature meets on December 5 to introduce a bill to remove the Governor from the post of Chancellor.