SC Directive Ignored: Governor Rejects State Panel, Reinstates VCs

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has reappointed Dr. Sisa Thomas and Dr. K. Shivaprasad as interim Vice Chancellors of the Digital University and the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, defying the Supreme Court’s directive and bypassing the state government’s recommended panel.
The move has triggered a sharp political and legal standoff between the Raj Bhavan and the state government. The Supreme Court had earlier made it clear that temporary appointments to Vice Chancellor posts must strictly adhere to the provisions in the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Act and the Digital University Act. Both legislations state that only candidates recommended by the government can be considered for interim Vice Chancellor roles, and that the appointee must be either a Vice Chancellor or Pro-Vice Chancellor of another university, or the Secretary of the relevant department.
Despite this, Governor Arlekar, in his capacity as Chancellor of universities, rejected the government’s recommended panel—which included Prof. Praveen, Dr. Jayaprakash, and R. Sajeeb—and reinstated Sisa Thomas and Shivaprasad without consulting the state. The reappointments were made through direct orders from Raj Bhavan, without waiting for the next court hearing scheduled for August 13.
The Kerala High Court had earlier ruled that the Chancellor cannot make VC appointments without following the legally mandated process and must select from the government-provided panel. The Supreme Court reiterated this in its ruling, calling for strict compliance with Section 13(7) of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Act, 2015, and Section 10(11) of the Digital University Act. The court had also urged the Governor and the state government to cooperate in the interest of students, stating that university functioning must not be disrupted by the conflicts.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a fresh letter to the Governor, demanded that the temporary appointments be cancelled. He stated that the action directly opposes the dignity and intent of the Supreme Court verdict, and that the individuals reappointed were not among those suggested by the government.
Higher Education Minister R. Bindu alleged that the Governor is using the Chancellor's post to push a political agenda, claiming that appointments are being made based on ideological affiliations rather than academic merit. She noted that such disputes began only after Arif Mohammed Khan became Governor, adding that previous Governors had worked in line with the state government. “Our universities are now developing to global standards. At this stage, politically affiliated and academically unqualified individuals are being imposed,” she said. The minister added that the government has already sought legal advice on the reappointments and made it clear that such posts must be filled based on qualifications, experience, and administrative competence—not political affiliation.
Law Minister P. Rajeev also criticised the Governor's action, stating it directly violated the letter and spirit of the Supreme Court verdict. He said the earlier High Court order was cancelled precisely because it allowed a Chancellor to act outside the legal framework. “The Supreme Court ruling clearly stated that appointments must be legal, regardless of whether the individual is new or continuing. The Chancellor has now openly defied that directive,” Rajeev said.