In a significant legal development, the Kerala High Court has temporarily halted Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s initiative to form search committees for selecting Vice Chancellors at the University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, and Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.
Justice Ziyad Rahman AA issued the interim orders, extending a previous stay on a similar move for the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS).
These interim orders follow petitions by the Kerala government and University senate members, challenging a June 28 notification by the Governor. The stay will remain in effect for a month.
The Court emphasized that the Governor’s notification lacked statutory compliance, particularly the requirement for an elected senate member on the search committee. This dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the LDF-led State government and the Governor.
The notification has faced legal challenges concerning its application to four of six universities: KUFOS, University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, and Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.
The Court acknowledged the Governor’s counsel’s argument that the Universities failed to elect senate members despite repeated reminders. However, it found merit in the petitioners’ stance, stressing the need for statutory adherence in committee formation.
For the Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, the Court noted that the Governor’s authority to form a VC search committee warrants detailed examination, leading to a stay on the notification for this University as well.
In related cases, senior advocates and standing counsel represented the respective Universities and the Governor, reflecting the high stakes and complex legal backdrop of this ongoing conflict.
