KOCHI: The High Court has said that the University Senate cannot pass a resolution against the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the University. The Governor is not bound to reply to the resolution passed against him in violation of the guidelines.

Justice Devan Ramachandran, while criticizing Kerala University harshly, said not to consider that only the court wants a Vice-Chancellor. The court’s statement comes while hearing the plea of 15 members removed from the Senate by the Governor.

The Senate meeting due to convene tomorrow does not have on its agenda the discussion to select representatives for the Search Committee. It was in the hope to diffuse the issue that the 15 ousted members were allowed to participate in the Senate meeting to be held tomorrow. The working of the university will do into disarray if the appointment of the VC is delayed if the differences are worsened.

The court also said that it is understood that Kerala University is not interested to name the representatives of the Search Committee. The case is adjourned to Tuesday.

The plaintiff said that the Governor formed the Committee in a hurry without Senate representatives and this is in violation of UGC guidelines. It also demanded that the notification of forming the Committee must be withdrawn as this is against the guidelines of the university and the UGC. The Governor’s action is highly insulting.

In the Governor’s explanation, he says that these demands were raised by those members also who were appointed by him. As they had exceeded their authority they were removed from the position.

The High Court asked if the Senate needed to pass a resolution against the Governor just because they have differences with him.