Kochi: The Kerala High Court in an interim order has said that the Vice Chancellors (VC) of nine universities who were asked to quit today by the Governor Arif Mohammad Khan could continue for the time being.
As the Governor has allowed the VCs time until November 3 to reply, the earlier order issued by the Chancellor directing them to resign today has become invalid, the court observed.
Until removing them following all legal proceedings, the VCs could continue. The Governor has said that they would not be asked to quit without giving them an opportunity to make their position clear, the court observed.
The High Court said that after hearing the version of the VCs, the Governor could go ahead with the proceedings. The court welcomed the Governor’s decision to give time until October 24 for the VCs to send their replies to the Governor’s notices.
The Vice Chancellors of nine universities had moved the Kerala High Court challenging Kerala Governor’s order to vacate their posts by 11.30 am today after getting legal advice from the Advocate General.
The Governor had asked them to quit in the wake of the recent Supreme Court verdict canceling the appointment of A P J Abdul Kalam Technical University’s Vice Chancellor M S Rajashree’s appointment violating UGC norms.
The court order had underscored the power of the Governor, who is the Chancellor, in ensuring proper appointment of VCs in the state. Based on this verdict, the Governor had issued orders to the VCs to vacate their posts. The VCs had taken the legal advice of the Advocate General before moving the court.
The LDF government had also asked the VCs not to quit. The Governor had asked the VCs to quit on the claim that their appointments were done flouting UGC norms to help candidates with left parties backing to occupy key posts in the universities.
In a related incident, the Governor told media that he might have committed some errors which he wanted to correct. The Governor did not allow a few media reporters, affiliated to political parties, to attend the press meet. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan cautioned the Governor to not cross his limits. DYFI organized a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan.
Photo Credit: Facebook
