THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Set back to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan in Lokayukta in the case of dismissal of the search committee appointed to find the Vice Chancellor of Kannur University and re-appointment of Dr. Gopinath Raveendran.

The government has submitted to the Lokayukta, a letter submitted by the Governor to Minister R. Bindu seeking recommendation for the appointment of VC. The minister sent a letter recommending the name of Gopinath Raveendran. The governor had said that by submitting the legal advice of the Advocate General , he was put under pressure and was forced for re-appointment.

Lokayukta Justice Cyriac Joseph said that it was only a recommendation of Minister Bindu and why the Chancellor did not reject this recommendation. There is no evidence that the minister misused her position. The petitioners should state the wrong action of the minister. The Minister, the Chancellor and the Governor are not under the power limits of Lokayukta. The Lokayukta said that the word recommendation was not used anywhere in the letter, the word used was proposal.

The Lokayukta asked the petitioners to explain what financial gain the Minister had in appointing the VC or the wife of the Chief Minister's Private Secretary as the Associate Professor. The allegation that the re-appointment of the VC is in retaliation for the appointment of the wife of the Chief Minister's Private Secretary KK Ragesh is not valid. Is it a big crime to be the wife of a politician? Kannur University has recruited for many teaching posts. What is the role of the Minister in these appointments? The Lokayukta said there was no record of appointment of the private secretary's wife. Director of Prosecution TA Shaji argued that there was only communication between the minister and the chancellor.

The Deputy Lokayukta asked what is the need of the Minister of Higher Education, if the Minister could not interfere in any of the affairs of the universities. The case was heard by a division bench comprising Lokayukta Cyriac Joseph and Deputy Lokayukta Aaron-ul-Rashid. The Lokayukta will decide at 4 pm whether there is a need for an inquiry into the reappointment of the VC. Justice Haroon al-Rashid jokingly asked if the Lokayukta Amendment Ordinance would come into force already. Director General of Prosecutions TA Shaji replied that he does not know.

The government has written a letter to the Governor stating that there is no fault with the Lokayukta amendment and the accusation of the opposition are baseless. The government's expalantion was submitted in a sealed envelope from CM's office to Rajbhavan. The decision will be taken by the Governor whether to seek further legal advice.