Temporary VCs: Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan seeks list of professors

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has asked the vice-chancellors of universities to furnish the details of professors, who have completed 10 years in the universities, to temporarily fill the upcoming vacant posts of vice-chancellors.
The governor has asked the vice-chancellors of Kerala, Calicut, Mahatma Gandhi, Kannur and Cusat universities to submit the list of those eligible.
The tenure of vice-chancellor of Kerala University is coming to an end on October 24.
The temporary posts of vice-chancellors are usually given to the vice-chancellors of other universities. The temporary charge of vice-chancellor of agriculture university was handed over to the agriculture production commissioner.
As per rules governing the agriculture university, the rules say that the temporary charge of vice-chancellor should be handed over to a person in consultation with the government. But with regard to other universities, since the rules do not stipulate so, the governor can hand over the charge to a person without consulting the government.
The governor used to consult the government in the past with regard to the remaining universities also. But under the current circumstances where the governor and the government are at loggerheads, the governor is unlikely to consult the government.
It is learnt that the governor is not keen to hand over the charge of the vice-chancellor of Kerala University to any vice-chancellor of other universities.
It is under these circumstances that the governor has sought the list of professors who are eligible to hold the charge of vice-chancellor. As per UGC rules, a person should have completed 10 years of service as professor if he is to be considered for the post of vice-chancellor.
In an open confrontation with the government, the governor had axed 15 senate members of Kerala University using his powers as chancellor, citing that they had failed to discharge their duties and responsibilities.