The Supreme Court on Monday put on hold Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s request to exclude Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan from panels that will shortlist vice chancellors for 2 state universities.
A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan said it would first await the report of former apex court judge Sudhanshu Dhulia, who heads the search committee, before intervening.
AG Raises Concerns
Appearing for the Governor, Attorney General R Venkataramani pressed for urgency, warning that the Chief Minister’s role in the panel could cloud the appointment process. He also referred to a recent Supreme Court order in the West Bengal Governor-VCs tussle, where former CJI U U Lalit was appointed to mediate, and later modifications restored the Governor’s powers as Chancellor.
“This could create confusion once the Kerala panel makes its recommendations,” Venkataramani argued.
Court’s View
The bench, however, chose caution over haste. “Should we not wait for Justice Dhulia’s report? Once it comes, we will work out the modalities,” Justice Pardiwala observed, deferring the matter.
Arlekar, who is Chancellor of both APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala Digital University, contends that the laws governing these institutions do not provide any role for the Chief Minister or state nominees in selecting VCs.
He cited UGC regulations, which bar those with a stake in affiliated colleges from influencing appointments. Since government-run colleges fall under the CM’s purview, the Governor argued, his participation would amount to “a person judging his own cause.”
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