Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had issued an e-mail order to the vice-chancellors of nine universities in the state asking them to resign from their posts. In protest, the Vice Chancellors had moved the High Court. Now on this matter, the Kerala HC has said that, all the 9 VCs of different universities can continue in their posts until the Chancellor issues them a final order after a show cause notice. The Court has also made it clear that the petitioners will continue to hold office in full compliance with the law till the final orders are issued by the Chancellor.
Challenging the order of resignation of Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, the Vice Chancellors of nine universities who were asked to resign have approached the High Court. The Kerala High Court approved the consideration of their petitions and the High Court held a special session and heard the petition of the Vice Chancellors. A single bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran, while hearing the petition, ordered that all the nine vice-chancellors can continue in their office till a new vice-chancellor is appointed.
According to the order issued by the Governor of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Sri Shankaracharya University Sanskrit, CalicutThe vice-chancellors of the university and Thunachath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University were asked to resign from their posts by 11.30 am on Monday at any cost.
Asked to resign by 11.30 am on October 24.
Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had issued the order upholding the order of the Supreme Court, in which the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University was canceled. According to the PRO of the Kerala Raj Bhavan, a letter was sent to the Vice Chancellors of 9 universities instructing them to submit their resignations by 11:30 am on October 24. The letter was sent over email to the VC and Registrar, PRO of the respective universities.
Kerala Raj Bhavan reported that, “In upholding the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 7634-7635 of 2022 (@SLP(C) No.21108-21109 of 2021), Hon’ble Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has directed the Vice-Chancellors of 9 Universities to It has been directed that he should resign from his post.”
In a tweet quoting the PRO of Kerala Raj Bhavan, the Raj Bhavan said that Khan also directed that the resignations of all the nine vice-chancellors reach him by 11.30 am on Monday.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the governor on this matter. He said that the governor has no such authority. He accused them of working against the constitution and democracy. The CM said, the governor is working with the intention of destroying the universities of the state. If these appointments were illegal, then the first responsibility lies with the Governor himself and the Chancellor has no right to demand the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor.
Following the order, Kannur University Vice-Chancellor Gopinath Raveendran said on Monday that he would not resign. He said, “I have got the decision of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, but I will not give my resignation. The resignation of the VC is based on either financial irregularities or bad behavior and none of these have happened. It is a fake allegation.”
In a recent event, Governor Khan pointed to the issue of appointment of VCs in various universities in Kerala, saying that the Supreme Court had already made it clear that the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor was the responsibility of the Governor. He said, “The Supreme Court has made it clear that the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor is the responsibility of the Chancellor, the state government has no role in it.”
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