THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The documents have come out stating that governor Arif Muhammad Khan had argued in favour of Technical university VC Dr. MS Rajasree in Supreme court in the case against her appointment. The petition was submitted by Professor PS Sreejith stating that Rajasree’s appointment was not as per UGC norms. The second defendant in the case, the governor argued in SC to reject the plea by Sreejith. The court issued order against Rajasree without considering this. The governor had issued notice demanding resignation of ten Vice chancellors of state universities citing the same Supreme court order.

The governor became the second defendant in the case as he is the appointing authority of the VC. That is why he had to submit an appeal in SC justifying the appointment. Governor’s principal secretary Devendra Kumar Dhodawat submitted the counter affidavit in SC. The affidavit states that as per Section 7.3 of the UGC regulations, 2010 and APJ Abdul Kalam Technical university regulations, 2015 Section 13(2), the appointment of Dr Rajasree is as per the norms.

As per section 7.3 of UGC regulations, the search committee must be constituted as per the rules of the concerned university. The chancellor appointed Rajasree as VC as per the notification issued by search committee on Februray 2, 2019. Kerala government has accepted the UGC regulations, 2010. So, the governor’s affidavit states that the appeal filed by the petitioner should be rejected on this basis.

The affidavit also states the search committee for selection of VCs are decided as per state rules and the chief secretary's membership in the search committee is not a violation of UGC rules.

In the judgment issued by the Supreme Court in 1967 in Golak Nath vs state of Punjab, it has been clarified that the judgment issued by the court will be applicable only in future cases. Although the Supreme Court judgment is the law of the land under Article 141, the judgment of 1967 might pave way for a loophole to exclude previous appointments.