Government begins process to appoint permanent V-Cs: Higher Education Minister

Higher Education Minister Roji M. John on Friday (October 16) informed the Keralam Assembly that the government has initiated preliminary steps to appoint permanent Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) in all universities in the State.

The Minister pointed out that several universities lack permanent Vice-Chancellors. Multiple cases relating to the issue were pending before the Supreme Court and Kerala High Court. Efforts were being made to find a lasting solution to the longstanding problem, he added.

Referring to disputes over V-C appointments and the appointments of representatives to university bodies including Syndicates, senates and Board of Studies, the Minister said the government will not tolerate any kind of communalisation of higher education institutions or interventions that lead to ideological polarisation.

Communist party of India (CPI) legislator Muhammed Muhassin, while raising the issue during the Question Hour, alleged that the Centre and the Bharatiya Janata Party were attempting to advance their political interests in Keralam‘s universities by sidelining the State government’s views and using the Governor and Lok Bhavan to influence appointments and administrative decisions.

Mr. Muhassin alleged that the United Democratic Front (UDF) government was not resisting such interventions in university administration as strongly as its predecessor.

The Minister retorted that the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had allegedly entered into understandings behind closed doors and certain appointments were made even while cases were pending in courts. The current government would not agree to such settlements, Mr. John asserted.