Governor-CM war escalates as Arif Khan initiates move to select Kerala University V-C

Forgoing the conventional practice of the Chancellor entrusting the state government with the task of proposing its nominee to constitute the search panel, Khan exercised powers under Section 10(1) of the Kerala University Act, 1974, and nominated Debashis Chatterjee, director of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Kozhikode, as convener of the committee.

Based on the Governor’s request, the University Grants Commission also deputed Battu Satyanarayana, vice-chancellor of the Central University of Karnataka, as the second member of the committee.

The Governor then issued a notification constituting the committee, stating that the nominee of the University Senate would be included as a third member as and when they decided who it would be.

University refuses to oblige

Irked by how the Governor had acted, the Senate, composed mostly of LDF fellow-travellers, decided against nominating a member to the committee.

It justified the decision saying the Senate representative would not have a say in the committee as the nominees of the Governor and the UGC would gang up to choose a vice-chancellor.

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan seen with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (South First)

Though the committee had been mandated to make its recommendations within three months, the process was delayed because of the refusal of the Senate to depute its nominee.

​In the meantime, the government passed the amendment bill in the Assembly using its majority and, in a way, overriding clauses in the Kerala University Act.

​As per the bill, the search-cum-selection committee will now have five members in place of the existing three. The bill also takes away the Chancellor’s right to constitute the committee and gave it to the vice-chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council.

As per the amended bill, except for the UGC nominee, all committee members will be eminent persons recommended by the state government. The Chancellor will not have any unilateral right to nominate his representative without consulting the state government.

‘Will not sign the bill’

The bill is now pending the Governor’s approval.

On Monday, Khan declared at his much-hyped press meet that he would not sign the bill under any circumstance as it infringes on the autonomy and independence of the higher education sector.

Vice-Chancellor V.P. Mahadevan Pillai’s tenure will end in October, and the coming days will witness more clashes between the Governor, the state government and the university over the selection process.

As the newly amended bill aimed at streamlining appointments in all universities in Kerala, the decision of the Governor not to endorse it will also create similar clashes in other universities.

Letter to President Murmu

Meanwhile, CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam has written to President Droupadi Murmu seeking her intervention to control the Governor, who, according to him, was on a confrontational path with the state government.

CPI Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam. (Facebook)

In his letter, Viswam also underscored the need to retain the dignity of the Governor’s office.

“The Governor has been acting like a mere political worker and has crossed all constitutional limits,” the letter read.

Senior CPI(M) leader Thomas Isaac warned the Governor of intense political mobilisation of Kerala masses if he refused to uphold the dignity of his position. He also told the Governor that the constitution does not allow any constitutional head to keep bills passed by legislative assemblies indefinitely without approving them.