New Delhi: The Kerala government has moved the Supreme Court against the appointment of interim Vice-Chancellors (VCs) in the Digital University and the Kerala Technological University (KTU). The petition seeks to annul the Governor’s order, arguing that the interim VC appointments are illegal and not in line with the procedure prescribed by the Supreme Court. It points out that the Governor made the decision unilaterally without consulting the government. The case will be considered on Wednesday.

Governor Rajendra Arlekar had issued a notification reappointing Dr Ciza Thomas and K Sivaprasad as interim VCs of the Digital University and KTU, respectively, for another six months. He cited paragraph 20 of a Supreme Court order, which allows the Chancellor to issue a new notification to enable existing interim VCs to continue. However, the government contends that the same paragraph also specifies that such notification must be issued in accordance with Section 13(7) of the Kerala Technological University Act and Section 11(10) of the Digital University Act. These provisions require the appointment of temporary VCs from a panel recommended by the government — a step that, according to the government, was not followed.

On February 14, the High Court had ruled in favour of the government regarding the temporary VC appointments in the Digital University and KTU, following which Ciza Thomas and K Sivaprasad were relieved of their duties. Soon after, the government submitted a panel of three candidates each for both universities to the Governor. However, the Governor chose to approach the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has issued an interim order stating that the temporary VCs appointed by the Governor can continue until new VCs are appointed in the Digital University and KTU. The bench also clarified that the Governor may decide either to retain the incumbents or appoint new interim VCs. It cautioned that no political influence should be involved in the appointments and warned that such interference would no longer be tolerated. The court also observed that in the ongoing tussle between the Kerala government and the Chancellor over VC appointments, it is the students who are suffering, a situation the court described as regrettable.