THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was after issuing a notification as per law for the appointment of Kannur vice chancellor and releasing an official gazette notification after constituting the selection committee, that minister R Bindhu had asked the governor to re-appoint the vice chancellor. The government has submitted before the Lokayukta, the letter given by governor’s secretary Devendrakumar Dodavat, granting approval to the recommendation for the re-appointment of the vice chancellor.

With this, the government was able to state that minister Bindhu had not resorted to nepotism or corruption. While the case is to be considered by the Lokayukta today, the state of both the minister and the government is safe. The governor Arif Mohammad Khan’s argument, that the state government had pressurized him into issuing the order for the re-appointment of VC Dr Gopinath Raveendran, by submitting the legal advice of the advocate general, will now cease to exist.

Even though there is a clause in the university law about the re-appointment of VC, the person should not be more than 60 years old, at the time of the appointment. The UGC mandates do mention about age limit, but there is no such condition for re-appointment. In both cases, VC appointment should be done as per the recommendations of the search committee. It was by pointing this out, that the governor stated it to be against law. However, the documents reveal that it was the governor who went against the law by dismissing the search committee and asking the government to suggest names.

Governor unaware of the letter…?

As per the hints given by Raj Bhavan, the governor was unaware of the letter written by his secretary Devendrakumar Dodavat, to additional chief secretary for higher education, V Venu, recommending the re-appointment of present VC. The governor evaluates this to be the secretary’s move teaming up with the government. The secretary is likely to be removed from the post.

‘Give recommendation for re-appointment’

(Letter on November 22 under governor’s name)

‘I am directed to convey the order of the honorable chancellor, Kannur University to withdraw the notification dated 27-10-2021 and subsequent corrigendum dated 03-11-2021, with regard to appointing a search committee to identify the person to be appointed as VC of the Kannur University, and also to permit the state government to submit necessary proposal for the re-appointment of the present incumbent in the post of VC of the Kannur University as VC of the said university for a further continuous term of four years.’