Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has addressed criticism over his decision to appoint interim Vice Chancellors (VCs) for Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation, and Technology (KUDSIT). Responding to allegations of overreach, the Governor clarified that the appointments were made in strict adherence to legal precedents and regulatory frameworks.
Governor Khan cited a recent Kerala High Court judgment that reinforced the authority of the Chancellor — a role he holds — to act in line with the Supreme Court’s directives and the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. “We had been seeking clarification, and the High Court ruled that in light of the Kannur University judgment, the Chancellor has every authority to act as per the Supreme Court and UGC regulations,” he stated.
According to the Governor, the appointments were finalized only after these legal clarifications were received. He emphasized that the decisions were neither arbitrary nor politically motivated. “Only after it was clarified by the High Court, we appointed two men yesterday,” he said.
Additionally, Khan pointed out that the governing acts of the two universities in question provide provisions for the state government to recommend names for such appointments. However, he did not elaborate on whether such recommendations were received or considered during the appointment process.
The controversy comes amid a broader tussle between the Kerala government and the Governor’s office over university administration and autonomy. The Governor’s move has drawn sharp criticism from state leaders, who argue that such actions undermine the role of elected representatives in shaping higher education policy.
As the debate intensifies, the issue highlights the persistent friction between the state government and the Governor, reflecting larger tensions between academic autonomy and regulatory oversight in India’s university system.
