KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday held that all eight Vice Chancellors of various universities can continue in their positions until the Chancellor issues a final order following show-cause notices to them.

The court also made it clear that the petitioners will be eligible to continue in their positions however in full compliance with law and regulations till such time the Chancellor issues a final order.

A special sitting was held on Monday in this regard.

This comes after the nine VCs approached the High Court challenging the Governor's order to tender their resignations. The Raj Bhavan had earlier sent letters directing the VCs of nine universities to tender their resignation by 11:30 am on October 24.

The court observed while dictating the order that, "the vitiating factors become attached to the petitioners, their appointment does not become untenable from October 24, 2022, but from abi initio and I cannot understand how the Chancellor could have watered it down."

"A proper enquiry and thought have to be invested particularly when petitioners have specific cases to their factual scenarios. The argument of the petitioners that the Chancellor cannot issue a show cause notice is also left open and all the remedies of the petitioners to even impugn the same are left open. Every issue, be that the competence and jurisdiction of the Chancellor, is left open," it added.

On Monday, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan issued notices to the Vice Chancellors of the state universities concerned to show cause by 5 pm on or before November 3 on their legal right to continue in office.

"Notices issued to the Vice Chancellors concerned to show cause by 5 pm on or before Nov 3rd, their legal right to continue in office as Vice Chancellors and not to declare their appointment illegal and void ab initio: PRO, Kerala Raj Bhavan," tweeted the Kerala Governor.

"For the purpose of removing the anomaly in appointment of Vice Chancellors in University of Kerala, the Hon'ble Chancellor has asked you to submit resignation to initiate steps for making proper appointment in accordance with the law. Since you have refused to tender your resignation as directed by the Hon'ble Chancellor, there is no option but to declare your appointment as illegal and void ab initio," a letter attached to the tweet said.