Kerala VC appointment row intensifies as Governor moves Supreme Court to exclude CM from selection process, while the Court awaits Justice Dhulia’s Committee report on Vice Chancellor nominations.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: The appointment of Vice-Chancellors (VCs) in Kerala’s state universities has become the latest concern in the ongoing tussle between the Governor and the State Government. The Supreme Court of India is now set to examine an application filed by Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, seeking to remove the Kerala Chief Minister from the Search and Selection Committee for appointing regular VCs to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology.
Developments in the Case
Attorney General R. Venkataramani, representing the Chancellor, highlighted a recent West Bengal Governor case, which reaffirmed the Governor’s authority as the appointing authority for VCs. He urged the Court to consider the application before Justice (Retired) Sudhanshu Dhulia, who heads the search committee, submits his recommendations.
Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, representing the Kerala government, opposed the application, arguing that the State’s involvement in the process is legally valid under UGC regulations.
A Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan decided to wait for Justice Dhulia’s report before taking any substantive action. “Should we not wait for the report of Justice Dhulia?” remarked Justice Pardiwala, emphasizing that clarity on the appointing authority will follow the Committee’s recommendations.
Background of the Dispute
The deadlock traces back to August 18, 2025, when the Supreme Court appointed Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as the Chairperson of the Search and Selection Committee. The Court stressed that students’ academic progress should not suffer due to administrative delays. The Committee was tasked with recommending regular VCs for the two universities, with a five-member composition: two nominees each from the Chancellor and the State, and the Chairperson. Justice Dhulia holds discretion to form either a common committee or separate committees for the two universities.
The Governor’s latest petition seeks:
- Exclusion of the Chief Minister from the VC selection process
- Inclusion of a University Grants Commission (UGC) nominee in the Committee
- Ensuring that the Chancellor retains discretion to choose from an alphabetical panel of shortlisted candidates
The petition argues that the Supreme Court’s earlier reliance on the West Bengal precedent was misplaced, noting that Kerala’s University statutes do not provide any role for the Chief Minister or State Government in VC appointments. The Governor also cited the 2023 ruling in Prof. Dr. Sreejith v. Dr. Rajasree, which affirmed that UGC regulations prevail over conflicting State laws in VC appointments.
The dispute highlights differing interpretations of Sections 13(1), 13(2), and 13(7) of the Technological University Act. The State claims authority to constitute committees and temporarily appoint VCs under UGC guidelines, while the Governor insists that only the Chancellor may appoint VCs from the State-recommended panel.
The Supreme Court had earlier emphasised cooperation between the State and the Chancellor, urging both sides to avoid politicising the appointments and to prioritise students’ academic interests. The Court allowed the Governor to issue temporary VC appointments within the statutory six-month limit, while regular appointments remain pending.
Case Title:
The Chancellor, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University v. State of Kerala & Ors.
SLP(C) No. 020680-020681/2025
