CM of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan. File
| Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran
The Supreme Court on Friday (December 5, 2025) said that Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan must reach a consensus by December 9 on the appointment of the “most meritorious” among names shortlisted by search committees headed by a retired apex court judge for the position of Vice Chancellors of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology.
“By Tuesday [December 9, 2025], you will have to reach some consensus. If you are unable to do so, the intervention of the court is the only option… You would have to work it out or the court will make the appointment,” Justice Pardiwala, heading a Bench, addressed Attorney General R. Venkataramani, appearing for the Governor, and senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, for the Kerala government, standing on either end of the courtroom.
The hearing began with Mr. Venkataramani conveying to the court that the Governor, who is also Chancellor of the two universities, preferred two names, Dr. Ciza Thomas and Dr. Priya Chandran, as Vice Chancellors of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, respectively.
However, Chief Minister Vijayan did not agree with him.
Mr. Venkataramani said his preference was dictated by the fact that Ms. Thomas and Ms. Chandran had commonly figured in the VC panels prepared by both the search committees headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia.
Mr. Gupta cut in, saying the “Chancellor has agreed to the very two names the Chief Minister has found unacceptable”.
The court said the point was to have the most qualified persons appointed as Vice Chancellors.
“We want the most meritorious of the names in both the universities,” Justice Pardiwala emphasised.
The Supreme Court had intervened on August 18 to appoint Justice Dhulia to head search-cum-selection committees to recommend names for appointment as Vice-Chancellors of the two varsities. The court had ordered the shortlisted names, endorsed by Justice Dhulia, to be placed before the Chief Minister for his consideration. The August 18 order had entitled the Chief Minister to recommend to the Governor the shortlisted names in order of preference for appointment as Vice-Chancellors.
In September, the Governor’s office returned to the apex court, seeking a modification of the August 18 order regarding the role of the Chief Minister in the appointment process. The Governor had argued that neither the University Grants Commission nor the State laws governing the two universities envisaged a role for the Chief Minister in the appointment process. The application had contended that the Chief Minister’s involvement would be tantamount to a person judging his own cause.
Published – December 05, 2025 02:51 pm IST
