Governor-government spat leaves Kerala state universities headless

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the Kerala government claims to be making all-out efforts to improve the quality of higher education and plug the gap to prevent the flow of students to other states and countries for pursuing higher studies, 14 of the 15 state universities have no full time vice chancellors (VC) now. Thanks to the Governor - government rift over VC selection process.

Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Calicut University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kannur University and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University are among the key varsities that have been functioning with in-charge VC's over the past several months. Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) is the lone state university that now has a full time vice-chancellor- Dr Mohanan Kunnummal.

The CPI(M) government in Kerala is even planning to challenge Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's decision on Thursday to reappoint Dr Kunnumel as KUHS vice-chancellor. Dr Kunnumel is also the VC in-charge of Kerala University.

The Pinarayi Vijayan government and Governor Khan have been locking horns over vice-chancellor selection over the last couple of years. The row started after Khan opposed the move to reappoint Gopinath Raveendran as Kannur University vice-chancellor. The SC also upheld the Governor's stand and quashed the reappointment.

In an alleged bid to ensure that persons of government's choice are made VCs, the Kerala government amended the laws to restructure the search committees for VCs selection by ensuring that more nominees of the state government are included in the committees. But Khan countered the move by referring the bill passed by the Kerala Assembly in this regard to the President, which is still pending.

The Kerala government is justifying their stand by citing that the Governor was trying to saffronise universities in Kerala by implementing the Sangh Parivar agenda of inducting pro-BJP persons as VC's. Khan alleges that the CPI(M)-led government was spoiling the quality of the higher education sector by appointing persons of their choice in universities and hence, as Chancellor of the universities, he was bound to resist it.

Save University Campaign Committee chairman R S Sasikumar alleged that it was the quality of the higher education sector as well as the future of students pursuing education in universities in Kerala at stakes with the Governor - government rift.

"Even this year, around 30 to 40 percent seats in degree and post-graduate courses in colleges in Kerala are reportedly lying vacant as students from the state are going to other states for pursuing higher education. It is high time that the higher education sector is made free from political interventions," said Sasikumar, who has been fighting against the undue political interventions in the education sector in Kerala.