Last updated: February 23, 2023, 5:19 PM IST
Arif Mohammed Khan said any judgment of the Kerala HC or a court would be carried out in letter and spirit (File photo/Twitter)
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s comments come amid reports that the state government has sent a panel of three names to him for the selection of a VC for the university
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said on Thursday that the Kerala High Court has allowed the interim vice-chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University to proceed and therefore there was no need for him to turn to the Supreme Court. Khan, speaking to reporters in the national capital, said any verdict of the Kerala High Court or any court would be carried out in letter and spirit.
“The VC was allowed to continue. There is no problem. So where is the need for me to come to the Supreme Court? I don’t think the Supreme Court could have said anything about the regular appointment (of VC).
“Regular appointments are completely different. As far as I know, the Supreme Court has not said anything about the regular appointments. If they haven’t said anything about the regular appointment, then things stand as they are,” he said.
When the scribes told him that the state government has entered a reservation in the apex court pending an appeal from the governor, Khan said he has nothing to say about that.
“The state can do anything, you ask them,” he said, adding that he has not sought legal advice from anyone on the matter.
His comments come amid reports that the state government has sent a three-name panel to him for the selection of a VC for the university.
The HC had last week authorized the state government to proceed with the process to appoint a vice chancellor at APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, saying the chancellor’s appointment of Ciza Thomas was temporary.
The Supreme Court had said the appointment was temporary and under special circumstances.
“The government has the power to recommend the new vice-chancellor. The government may nominate a new panel of eligible candidates. It is the government that must take steps in relation to the appointment of the new VC,” it had said.
Earlier, on 29 November last year, the HC had allowed Thomas to continue as Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University in Kerala, but directed the state government to set up a selection committee and as soon as possible appoint a Vice-Chancellor.
The court had refused to suspend the appointment as requested by the Kerala government.
An order from the Supreme Court had overturned the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the Technological University because it violated UGC standards, leading to the appointment of Thomas as VC in charge by the Governor.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed)
