Kerala High Court rejects petition against reappointment of Kannur University VC: Report

NEW DELHI: The Kerala High Court rejected the plea which challenged the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran as Kannur University’s vice-chancellor. He was re-appointed on November 23, on the day his first term as the vice-chancellor ended. Justice Amit Rawal dismissed the plea moved by the Kannur University Senate member Ramachandran Keezhoth and others. The petitioners had accused the process of reappointment to be in violation of the norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC), reported the Hindustan Times.

Previously, Arif Mohammed Khan, the governor of Kerala had stated that he was under political pressure to re-appoint Ravindran as the vice-chancellor of Kannur University. The Governor has resented the passing of an amendment to the University Act State Assembly, which has stripped the governor off his power as the chancellor to appoint the University Appellate Tribunal. The governor has also criticised the removal of the provision that enables the chancellor to consult the High Court in the appointment of the tribunal.

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The plea challenging the reappointment of Kannur University vice-chancellor was moved by university senate member Ramachandran Keezoth and two others. They stated that such reappointments were in violation of the University Grants Commission guidelines. They also alleged that Raveendran has crossed the age of 60 years, post which he cannot be appointed as vice-chancellor again.

But according to the HC, all records produced before the court show that the UGC norms were followed. The petitioners have decided to move the division bench against the single-judge verdict.