THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ruling out a rethink on his appointment of temporary vice-chancellors in APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and Digital University Kerala (DUK), Governor Rajendra Arlekar has informed the government that the process of selecting permanent V-Cs in all universities could commence at the earliest.
Arlekar conveyed his position to Higher Education Minister R Bindu and Law Minister P Rajeeve, who met him at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday on the instructions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after the government objected to the Raj Bhavan’s move to “unilaterally” carry out appointments in KTU and DUK after disregarding a panel of the V-C probables it had submitted.
A top source privy to the meeting said Arlekar conveyed to the government that as per the directions of the Supreme Court, the process of selecting permanent V-Cs in all universities could start at the earliest. In universities where the process is not caught in legal tangles, search committees for V-C selection could be constituted as a preliminary step, he reportedly told the ministers.
There are six universities where the governor has constituted search committees for selection of permanent V-Cs but the move has been challenged by the government or by members of university bodies close to the ruling dispensation.
“The governor demanded that the government should take steps to vacate the stay obtained from the Kerala High Court in such cases,” said a source.
The ministers also highlighted the administrative crisis in the Kerala University following the suspension of Registrar K S Anil Kumar by the V-C. The government urged Arlekar to direct the V-C to convene a meeting of the senate and report the suspension in the forum.“The governor was of the view that the suspension should first be acknowledged instead of creating an unruly atmosphere in the varsity. Thereafter, the syndicate could be convened to decide on the disciplinary action taken against the official,” a Raj Bhavan source said.
Meanwhile, a top government source told TNIE that that the ministers did not give any assurances to Arlekar’s demands but said a decision would be taken after high-level discussions. “The governor stuck to his stance that V-C appointment was his prerogative but he was open for discussions and consensus,” the source said.
“The ministers will convey the outcome of the meeting to the chief minister and the future course of action would be taken at the highest level. However, it is a welcome sign that both the government and the Raj Bhavan set the ball rolling for a consensus on the contentious issue,” the source said.
High-level discussion
Governor Rajendra Arlekar conveyed his postion to Higher Education Minister R Bindu and Law Minister P Rajeeve, who met him at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday on the instructions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the government objected to the Raj Bhavan’s move to “unilaterally” carry out appointments in KTU and DUK after disregarding a panel of the V-C probables it had submitted. A top government source told TNIE that that the ministers did not give any assurances to Arlekar’s demands but said a decision would be taken after high-level discussions.