Kerala Governor demands resignation of nine Vice-Chancellors, sets stage for a political, legal battle with State government

LDF leaders hint at possible legislation to remove the Governor as Chancellor of universities

In an unprecedented move, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan directed the Vice-Chancellors of nine universities in Kerala to tender their resignations by 11.30 a.m. on Monday.

Mr. Khan, the chancellor of varsities, issued the order after the Supreme Court annulled the appointment of M.S. Rajasree as Vice-Chancellor of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU).

In a communique, the Governor alleged a violation of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms in the Vice-Chancellor appointment process.

For one, the Raj Bhavan said the search committees had failed to submit a panel of three to five candidates to the Chancellor so the Governor could exercise his informed judgement.

Instead, the committees arbitrarily proposed a single name for the top academic posts, thereby hobbling the Chancellor's right to wield his discretion.

The Governor's striking order surprised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government and hardened its resolve to resist what it viewed as Raj Bhavan's attempt to impose the RSS Hindu majoritarian agenda on Kerala's storied higher education sector.

The political executive has reportedly counselled the Vice-Chancellors to ignore the Chancellor's order, setting the ground for a protracted legal battle with far-reaching constitutional ramifications.