HC orders Calicut University to convene Senate meeting in 30 days

The Kerala High Court has directed the University of Calicut to convene its Senate meeting within 30 days to elect a new representative to the search-cum-selection committee for appointing the Vice-Chancellor (V-C).

A Bench of Justice V.G. Arun issued the directive on a petition filed by the State government, challenging notifications issued by the Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor, on the appointment of a new V-C for the varsity. In the petition, the government said that Prof A. Sabu, the Senate’s nominee to the committee, had written to the Chancellor, citing his inability to continue in the committee.

The court observed that the process to select the V-C could not commence without the committee being in place. The varsity said that under special circumstances the Senate could be convened within 30 days, following which the court ordered that a Senate meeting be held within 30 days to select its nominee to the committee. It further clarified that the consent of the elected member must be obtained, before forwarding the name to the Chancellor for approval.

The State had also challenged the inclusion of Prof. Eluvathingal D. Jemmis as the Chancellor’s nominee and convenor of the committee, saying that it violated University Grants Commission regulations as he currently served as a member of the governing body of St. Thomas College (Autonomous), Thrissur. He was later replaced by Prof. G.U. Kulkarni of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru. The matter has been adjourned to January 5, 2026, for hearing.