Justice Dhulia to Lead Search Panel for Kerala University V-Cs: Supreme Court Directive

Quick Summary

• Supreme Court Intervention: The supreme Court of India appointed retired Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as Chairperson of two search-cum-selection committees responsible for appointing Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) to two universities in Thiruvananthapuram-A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation, and Technology.
• Resolution of Impasse: This decision follows months-long deadlock between the Kerala government and the Governor (chancellor), who disagreed over V-C appointments.
• Committee Formation Process: Justice Dhulia has the discretion to form seperate or joint committees and select members from names provided by both State authorities and the chancellor. The Education Department will manage advertisements, application intake, and planning of candidate dossiers.
• Timeline: the selection process must be completed within a month.
• GovernorS Concerns: Attorney-General R. Venkataramani highlighted past disagreements over temporary V-C appointments by the chancellor without consulting Kerala’s government. He also mentioned IIT academicians being recommended for consideration alongside names suggested by UGC.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Supreme Court’s intervention reflects its attempt to strike a balance between federal principles governing education and resolving disputes within India’s concurrent power structure under constitutional law. By appointing an autonomous Chairperson with flexible guidelines, it avoids escalating tensions that could undermine cooperative governance.

This progress holds broader implications for safeguarding institutional autonomy amid rising debates about gubernatorial influence in university leadership roles across States. While enabling collaboration between State governments and Chancellors is crucial for impartial selections,quick resolution through clearly defined processes is essential to prevent further disruptions in higher educational functions critical to economic progress.

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