HC rejects Kerala’s appeal in VC appointment

TRIVANDRUM:THE Kerala High Court (HC) on Tuesday dismissed Kerala government’s petition against the appointment of Dr Ciza Thomas as a Vice Chancellor (VC) by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.

Khan, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the state’s universities, put her in charge of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University temporarily rejecting the government nominee.

Last month, the governor initiated the process of removing the VCS of 11 universities appointed in violation of the norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the federal regulator.

It led to a verbal spat with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, a top leader of the Communist Party of India-marxist (CPI-M), and a demonstration before his official residence.

It also opened a series of litigation involving the VCS he had put on notice and the state government challenging his decision.

Last week, the Supreme Court refused to stay the HC order disqualifying Dr K Riji John, the VC of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies.

Providing more ammunition to Khan, Justice Devan Ramachandran observed that there was no doubt that Dr Ciza was fully qualified, going by the UGC regulations.

He observed that she had experience in both teaching and research and her choice was justified as she was working as the senior joint director of technical education. Khan is now expected to speed up the process of replacing other VCS whom he had put on notice as they lacked the Ugc-specified qualifications.

Ramachandran found that excluding the earlier VC, she was ranked 9th on the list of professors found eligible for holding the post.

“The responsibility of the chancellor to act in conformity of law is now far more,” Justice Ramachandran observed.

He said it was incontestable that even the act recognises “appointment to be that of VC and nothing else; the only difference is that the appointment is to temporary vacancy.” Dr Ciza could not discharge her duties as the Vc-in-charge following the predominant non-cooperation of the pro-government staff union.

In the process, degree certificates of some 4,000 students are yet to be issued, puting their higher education or employment in limbo.

The court observed that the chancellor could make appointments in accordance with the UGC Act.

He can fill a temporary vacancy at the recommendation of the government and put the VC of another university in Kerala, pro-vc of the same university or the principal secretary of the government.