The Kerala High Court ruled on Monday that the vice-chancellors of the nine state universities may remain in their positions until the governor, who serves as the chancellor, gives a final ruling in response to the show-cause letters that were sent to them today. Parties are free to make any and all claims.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan used his authority as chancellor to issue show-cause notices to the vice-chancellors of nine universities after they refused to submit their resignation letters to him by 11.30 AM on Monday as he had instructed them to do on Sunday, amid rising tensions between the Raj Bhavan and the Left government. There is until November 3 for the Vice Chancellors to react.
Eight vice-chancellors filed a lawsuit against Khan's "extraordinary moves" in the Kerala High Court, disputing the chancellor's decision.
Despite it being a holiday for Diwali, the high court convened a special session on Monday evening and ruled that vice-chancellors may remain in their positions and could only be fired after following the proper procedures.
The VCs pleaded with the court that the chancellor's entire move of demanding them to quit within 24 hours was unlawful, if not malicious.
The court stated that the resignation letter lost significance because the chancellor had given the vice-chancellors until November 3 to justify keeping their positions.
Khan emphasised that his actions, including asking for VCs to leave, are based on legal professionals' recommendations. He scrutinises the appointments made by VCs. Additionally, he said that VCs disobeyed his instructions as a result of the regime's hint.
He said that the VC violated the approved programme and guidelines.
“You invite me there, violate the approved programme, and violate every guideline. When you are asked to send the report of what happened there, you send this reply. Only a conspirator can do that. Who else can do it?” he said.
Meanwhile, Arif M. Khan, the governor of the state, has come under fire from Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for mandating the resignation of nine university vice-chancellors. "This is an attempt to misappropriate his position and undermines the essence of democracy," CM responded to the Governor.
