High Court allows government to hold special meeting on Diwali holiday to challenge the order of the Chancellor seeking resignation of nine Vice Chancellors
High Court allows government to hold special meeting on Diwali holiday to challenge the order of the Chancellor seeking resignation of nine Vice Chancellors
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacted sharply to Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan’s authoritarian-style campaign against Kerala’s higher education sector.
At a press conference in Palakkad, Mr. Vijayan mocked Mr. Khan’s demand that Resignation of Vice Chancellors by 11.30 am on Monday.
After the Supreme Court quashed the appointment of MS Rajshri as the Vice Chancellor of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU), Mr Khan had sought his step down.
Mr Vijayan argued that the governor, as chancellor of universities, had misinterpreted the Supreme Court ruling applicable across the board to all state university vice-chancellors.
Mr Vijayan said Mr Khan forgot that the order was subject to further judicial review.
The chancellor used the decision to push the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to disrupt Kerala’s higher education sector and destabilize the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
He said Mr Khan had deprived the vice chancellors of their right to answer. His actions went against the grain of natural justice.
The Chancellor had crossed his constitutional limits and even asked the state police chief to stand by if he imposed a new disposition on universities.
Mr. Vijayan said, “those holding high office should not make public spectacle of themselves like this”.
He said that the Vice-Chancellor cannot arbitrarily dismiss the Vice-Chancellors as per the University Act.
The Chancellor can take such an extreme step only after a Supreme Court or High Court judge has conducted an inquiry and found the Vice Chancellor guilty of misappropriation of funds or misconduct.
The governor had claimed that the appointments of the vice-chancellor violated the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.
He said, “If so, then primarily the Chancellor is responsible. That means he should step down. Whether university law or UGC norms prevail in such cases is a legally unresolved question. Government presents In view of the incidents, the judicial counsel will be found in the matter”, he said. ,
Mr Vijayan also indicated possible legislation to remove the governor from the post of Chancellor and give powers to the political executive.
special meeting of high court
On a day marked by fast-paced developments, the High Court allowed the government to hold a special meeting on the Diwali holiday to challenge the Chancellor’s order seeking the resignations of nine vice-chancellors. Justice Devan Ramachandran to hear the matter at 4 pm
Even as Mr Vijayan addressed the media, the time limit for the chancellors to tender his resignation by the Vice Chancellors expired.
The six vice-chancellors have reportedly informed the Raj Bhavan that they have sought legal recourse against the governor’s decree. He will be present in the High Court hearing.
Chief Minister pulled up Satisani
Mr Vijayan said Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan had backed the wrong horse by supporting Mr Khan’s move to implement the Sangh Parivar agenda at Kerala’s higher education centers while appreciating the chancellor’s effort to sack the vice chancellors. .
“Mr. Satisan has distanced himself in opposition to the United Democratic Front (UDF). IUML leaders and other Congressmen have objected to the governor’s move. He sensed the danger inherent in the Chancellor’s steps. He called on the Sangh Parivar. The bid has been seen to handle. JNU and other renowned universities. However, Mr. Satheesan remains willfully blind to the danger,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition clarified
Mr. Satheesan clarified in Kochi that he had not initialed Mr. Khan’s agenda of the Sangh Parivar. He merely stated that the Chancellor had rectified the mistake.
Earlier, the Governor had remained silent on the government’s illegal decision to extend the term of Kannur Vice Chancellor beyond the age of superannuation.
Subsequently, the UDF objected to the vice-chancellor’s decision to include the works of RSS ideologues in the university curriculum.
The order of the Supreme Court in KTU was clear. He said this applies to all universities. As alleged by the Chief Minister, the CPI(M) was not in sync with the BJP, but on the contrary.
relationships get worse
Mr Vijayan also circulated several serious complaints against Mr Khan, indicating further deterioration in the government’s already bad relationship with the Raj Bhavan.
He said Mr Khan had shown an egregious contempt for democracy by repeatedly refusing to sign into law bills passed by the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Vijayan alleged that the Governor has brought down the prestige of the Raj Bhavan by humiliating the ministers and academicians.
He said that Mr Khan aspires to usurp the powers of the elected government to run the administration from behind.
Mr Vijayan said Mr Khan threatened to “withdraw his happiness” with the continuation of the finance and law ministers in the cabinet.
Mr Vijayan said that the Governor has violated the Chief Minister’s patronage. The governor had no power to appoint or dismiss a minister. The Constitution has vested that power in the Chief Minister.
He said that the Chief Minister’s counsel compels the Governor in all matters of the State. Mr Khan, however, concedes that he does not have such powers, acting as the cat’s claws of the RSS.
The Sangh Parivar, which had lost its political base in Kerala, wanted to destabilize the LDF government. Mr Khan was taking his point forward. He said that people will oppose the Raj Bhavan-RSS conspiracy.
Kerala Governor’s response
Mr Khan declined to comment publicly on the issue. When a crowd of journalists turned up at a public function here, Mr. Khan said: “I don’t know which of you are real journalists. I will not take any questions from the cadres as journalists. From Raj, an honest journalist seeking answers. Can appeal. Building”.