Kerala Governor seeks resignation of vice-chancellors of 9 state universities

NEW DELHI: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has directed vice-chancellors of nine universities in the state to tender resignation by tomorrow, October 24, 2022, a day after the Supreme Court quashed the appointment of the VC of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University for being contrary to University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.

The nine universities, whose vice-chancellors’ resignation Khan has sought, include University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, University of Calicut, and Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.

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“Upholding the verdict of Hon'ble SupremeCourt dt 21.10.22 in Civil Appeal Nos.7634-7635 of 2022(@ SLP(c)Nos.21108-21109 of 2021) Hon'ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan has directed Vice Chancellors of 9 varsities in Kerala(see image) to tender resignation: PRO,KeralaRajBhavan,” Kerala Raj Bhavan said in a tweet.

Upholding the verdict of Hon'ble SupremeCourt dt 21.10.22 in Civil Appeal Nos.7634-7635 of 2022(@ SLP(c)Nos.21108-21109 of 2021) Hon'ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan has directed Vice Chancellors of 9 varsities in Kerala(see image) to tender resignation: PRO,KeralaRajBhavan pic.twitter.com/tsT5tQ9NJr

— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) October 23, 2022

“Letters directing Vice Chancellors of nine Universities of Kerala to tender their resignation by 11:30 a.m on 24 October 2022, have been issued. Letter also emailed to VCs and Registrars of universities concerned : PRO, Kerala Raj Bhavan,” it added.

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The top court had quashed appointment of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University VC Dr Rajasree M S, saying that as per the UGC, the search committee constituted by the state should have recommended a panel of not less than three suitable persons among eminent people in the field of engineering science to the chancellor but instead it sent only one name.

Recently, Khan sent a letter to the VC of Kerala University to remove its 15 senate members with immediate effect. As no steps were taken by the VC in furtherance of the communication, the Governor notified the removal effective from October 15.