THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Supreme Court setting aside the appointment of Dr MS Rajasree, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, for not complying with the UGC conditions, the future of four other VCs in the state is also hanging in the balance.

This is in the context that this disqualification will be applicable in the cases of Sanskrit, MG, Fisheries and Kannur VCs. Although this disqualification will affect Kerala University VC Mahadevan Pillai as well, he will not face action as his tenure ends on Monday. Soon after the Supreme Court issued the order, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who has been at loggerheads with the government and the Kerala and Kannur VCs, directed the Raj Bhavan staff to collect the appointment documents of the VCs. He will return to Kerala today.

Sources said that the Save University Campaign Committee will file a quo warranto petition in the High Court to disqualify the VCs. Although the High Court rejected the petition filed by the committee against the reappointment of the Kannur VC, the committee has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.

University Act against UGC

The 2010 UGC regulation states that the appointment of the VC should be from a panel of three to five names provided by the search committee. Although the central government directed that the rules and regulations of all universities should be amended accordingly within six months, the Technical University did not do so. This strategy of making 'dear ones' VCs has been thwarted by the Supreme Court order.

Qualified, but...

1. MG VC

Nanopolymer Scientist Dr Sabu Thomas A.D. has been ranked first in Kerala by the Scientific Index for Scientists.

Tenure: Up to May 2023

2. Sanskrit VC

Dr MV Narayanan is an Academy Award-winning author and editor of national and international journals. PhD from Britain.
Tenure: Up to March 2026

3. Kannur VC
Gopinath Ravindran was a professor at Jamia Millia University and Member Secretary of the Indian History Council.
Tenure: Up to November 2025

4. Fisheries V.C.
PhD in Fish Virology from Britain. Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the University of Maryland, USA.
Tenure: Up to January 2026.

Possibility

1. The Governor can inspect the appointment file of the VCs and summon them for a hearing
2. He can issue an order to cancel the appointment due to non-compliance with the rules
3. He can inform his stand on the cases in the courts
4. A search committee can be appointed to find new VCs