Higher Education Minister R. Bindu and Law Minister P. Rajeeve called on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday (August 3, 2025) as part of the State government’s continuing efforts to resolve various issues affecting the higher education sector.
The discussion, which lasted for over an hour, sought to attain a consensus on the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in State-run universities. The government’s reconciliation bid reportedly follows a directive by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
While the Governor had called the Principal Secretary of the Higher Education department for talks, the Chief Minister apparently deployed the Ministers instead to impress upon the Governor the government’s commitment in addressing the challenges, sources said.
The discussions were also held against the backdrop of the Supreme Court judgment that urges the Governor and the State government to work together in appointing regular Vice-Chancellors.
During the meeting, the Ministers emphasised the need for cooperative decision-making in the process. They also reiterated the government’s stand that the Supreme Court’s directive for collaborative governance in university matters must be followed in spirit and practice.
They are also learnt to have raised concerns over the recent appointment of interim Vice-Chancellors at Digital University Kerala and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, claiming that the appointment did not adhere to the Supreme Court guidelines. The Ministers also requested the Governor’s intervention in resolving the ongoing issues at Kerala University.
However, sources indicated that Mr. Arlekar maintained that the appointments were carried out in accordance with legal provisions.
Mr. Rajeeve later told mediapersons that the talks were “positive” and that the government is committed to resolving the issue through legal and democratic means. The government also remained hopeful about a consensus, he added.
Published – August 03, 2025 05:17 pm IST
