Govt to Propose Panels for Interim V-C Appointments at KTU, DUK

Quick summary

• The kerala State government has accelerated the submission of nominee panels for interim Vice-Chancellor positions at APJ Abdul Kalam technological University (KTU) and Digital University Kerala (DUK) following a Kerala High Court directive.
• The Higher Education Department and the Electronics and IT Departments have initiated steps to submit these panels to the Governor.
• Higher Education Minister R. Bindu stated that the panels will be shared soon, emphasizing that excluding State input in such appointments is “autocratic.”
• Simultaneously occurring, the Raj Bhavan is considering moving the Supreme Court for clarity on the judgment, possibly invoking University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations over State laws concerning university governance.
• previously, Raj Bhavan bypassed State-suggested nominees by appointing K. Sivaprasad and Ciza Thomas as interim Vice-Chancellors of KTU and DUK on November 27, 2024.
• Suggested names for KTU include Jayaprakash P., A. Praveen, & Vinod Kumar Jacob; for DUK: K.P. Sudheer, M.S. Rajasree & M.K. Jayaraj.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The ongoing dispute between Kerala’s Raj Bhavan and State government over appointing university Vice-Chancellors highlights notable governance challenges in higher education. While both parties refer to legal frameworks-the UGC regulations versus state-specific laws-the tension underscores deeper concerns about autonomy in educational institutions.

From an administrative viewpoint, ensuring obvious collaboration between stakeholders could avoid prolonged legal battles that may disrupt regular academic operations at key universities like KTU or DUK. Additionally,clarifying jurisdictional authority regarding temporary appointments might set critically important precedents both locally within Kerala and nationally across India’s higher education system.

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