Thiruvananthapuram: The ongoing spat between the Kerala Governor and the Government highlighted the state of affairs in the universities. Political interference in university administration and nepotism are being blamed for the falling levels of academic standards. Thirteen universities in Kerala are bereft of the services of Chancellor for nearly a month after Governor Arif Mohammed Khan refused to discharge duties in this regard.
No new files regarding the universities are being sent to the Raj Bhavan, the Governor's residence-cum-secretariat, after Khan started sending all files that were to be signed by him in his capacity as Chancellor to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
No decisions are being taken even on the university files that were sent to the CMO earlier.
The Governor is the Constitutional Head of the State and exercises powers as defined in the Constitution of India. The Governor is also the ex-officio Chancellor of universities in the State. "The Governor’s Secretariat provides secretarial assistance to the Governor in discharging his constitutional, ceremonial and other State responsibilities and his duties as the Chancellor of universities in the State.
The Governor’s Secretariat is headed by the Secretary to the Governor who is assisted by a team of officers and staff as per details available under the head organization. The Governor’s Secretariat includes the Secretariat and Household establishments."
The Governor's tussle with the state government commenced over the reappointment of the Kannur University vice chancellor a month ago. Worsening the ties, the Chancellor’s recommendation to the Kerala University to bestow D.Litt on President Ram Nath Kovind was rejected by the vice chancellor even without convening the university syndicate. It is widely held that the direction not to give D.Litt to the President was taken at the government level.
The opposition has blamed the Governor too for the current impasse in university administration in Kerala. It has refused to accept the Kerala Governor's decision to not return as Chancellor. Leader of Opposition, VD Satheesan, even warned legal action should the governor not return to the post.
"The governor's decision to not return to the chancellor post is against the rules," Satheesan said.
"As per the university acts (Kerala University Act) passed by the state assembly, the Governor is the Chancellor. So, he has to continue in the post as per the law of the land. He can stay away from it only if the state assembly brings an amendment to the Act."
Former leader of the opposition, Ramesh Chennithala said that the Governor excusing himself from the role of Chancellor will adversely affect the functioning of universities.
Chennithala reminded that it was "a constitutional post and Governor shying away from his duties shall create an administrative lockdown of universities".
"The Governor must be ready to rectify his errors in the appointment of the Kannur VC. If not it will be justifying the controversial appointment," Chennithala wrote on Facebook.
