Governor moves Kerala HC against single bench order terming appointment of temporary vice-chancellors as legally untenable

Kochi: Kerala governor, in his capacity as chancellor of the state's universities, has filed appeals before HC challenging a single bench order that declared as legally untenable the notifications issued by the chancellor appointing temporary vice-chancellors (VCs) to the Digital University and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University.The division bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and P V Balakrishnan on Monday adjourned the appeals to Tuesday to consider them along with two other appeals filed by Ciza Thomas, temporary VC of Digital University and K Sivaprasad, temporary VC of Technological University, challenging the same judgment.Earlier, in the state govt's pleas challenging the temporary VC appointments, the single bench held that, as per the University Acts governing both institutions, such appointments must be made on the recommendation of the state govt. However, the single bench declined to interfere with the notifications, observing that the statutory tenure of a temporary VC is limited to six months and that the terms of Sivaprasad and Ciza are set to expire on May 27.In his appeal, the chancellor contended that the Supreme Court in Premachandran Keezhoth vs chancellor, Kannur University had laid down the principle that the chancellor must act independently and without external interference in the matter of VC appointments. He further challenged the provision in the University Acts requiring state govt recommendation, arguing that it runs contrary to the University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Other Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2018.The chancellor also submitted that the single bench failed to consider the relevant legal and factual aspects involved in the matter.