THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the High Court quashing the appointment of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) VC Dr K Riji John for not complying with UGC norms, the stage is being set for the sacking of VCs of eight other universities in the state. These 8 universities are MG, Calicut, CUSAT, Sanskrit, Kannur, Malayalam, Open and Digital University.

The verdict will give energy to the Governor who started taking action to dismiss them. The division bench's direction to the Chancellor to start the process of appointing a new VC in Kufos and to form a search committee under the UGC rules came as a setback to the government which is preparing to fight against the Governor. The Kerala University Senate, which challenged the Governor by not recommending a representative to the search committee to find the VC, will also have to change its stance. With this, the arguments of the LDF, which is set to organise a march towards the Raj Bhavan today, have also faded.

The High Court quashed the appointment of Riji John as it found that he did not have sufficient work experience. It also found that the search committee for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor was not in accordance with the rules and the recommendation of a single name instead of a panel was illegal. Similar lapses have occurred in the appointment process of eight other VCs.

The Supreme Court had dismissed MS Rajasree from the post of VC of the Technical University due to non-compliance with the UGC rules. Monday's verdict was on a petition filed by another applicant questioning the appointment of Riji John.

The division bench's clarification that the appointments should only be made according to the UGC criteria comes at a time when the High Court is about to consider the petition filed by the VCs against the governor's show cause notice seeking a reason not to sack them.

The government's arguments that there were no other applicants and that the Chief Secretary was included in the search committee because he was an expert in administration also no longer work. There are only two VCs who are not under threat of expulsion- Health University VC Dr Mohanan Kunnummal and Veterinary VC Dr MR Saseendranath. Both were appointed from a panel provided by the search committee.

• Despite the appointment of the MG, Kannur, Sanskrit, and Kerala VCs being made in accordance with UGC regulations, only one name was suggested.
• A panel was given for the appointment of VCs in Malayalam, CUSAT and Calicut Universities. However, the Chief Secretary, who is not an academic expert, was on the search committee.
• The government claims that the Chief Secretary is an academic expert with expertise in public administration.