KTU meet dissolved due to lack of quorum

T'puram: The board of governors meeting of KTU scheduled on Thursday was dissolved due to a lack of quorum. Only 10 of the total 54 members of the council turned up for the meeting attended by governor Rajendra V Arlekar. Vice-chancellor (VC) K Sivaprasad called the meeting, with the consent of the governor, to approve the university's budget. The university failed to pass its budget after syndicate members abstained from the last four consecutive syndicate meetings.Governor Arlekar has begun attending senate meetings at several universities. At KTU, the board of governors handles duties usually managed by the senate. Arlekar arrived on campus under tight security. Sources say he directed the VC to use his special powers to pass the budget. He also asked the VC to report the names of governing council members who skipped the meeting without valid reasons.On Tuesday, high court declared former governor AM Khan's appointment of KTU VC invalid. The court ruled that governor cannot appoint an interim VC without a recommendation from the state govt. However, it said Sivaprasad need not be removed immediately, as his term ends on May 27.