THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: UGC said that it will comment within two weeks on the dismissal of Digital University VC Saji Gopinath and Open University VC Mubarak Pasha for non-compliance with appointment norms. The governor had sought a delay in action against them in the High Court. They were appointed by the government as the first VCs in the Open and Digital Universities.

The UGC is of the view that they can continue only until the varsity gets UGC approval. After that, the chancellor should form a search committee and appoint a new VC. The first VC can be reappointed if he is eligible. In both places, government appointees are continuing even after getting UGC approval. They will be released as soon as the UGC informs this in writing.

Open University VC Mubarak Pasha tendered his resignation but the governor did not accept it. The governor's assessment is that Pasha, who has no experience of 10 years as a professor, was appointed without a committee including UGC representative and therefore the appointment was invalid from the beginning.