Kerala HC gives interim relief to vice-chancellors asked to quit by governor

The court notes that as the governor’s letters seeking their resignation have become irrelevant after he served them show cause notices.

In an interim order, the Kerala High Court on Monday allowed nine university vice-chancellors to continue in office until  , who had earlier asked them to quit, took a final decision.

Khan, as chancellor of the nine universities, earlier in the day served showcause notices to the vice-chancellors on their right to remain in office.  The notices, returnable by November 3, were served after the vice-chancellors refused to resign in response to his Sunday directive.

The governor sought their resignations relying on the Supreme Court’s October 21 verdict holding that the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University vice-chancellor’s appointment had flouted the University Grants Commission norms and was therefore illegal. The vice-chancellor is among the nine asked to quit by the governor.

As the governor wanted them to resign by 11 am on Monday, the vice-chancellors moved the high court, which had a special sitting in the evening.

Justice Devan Ramachandran took exception to Khan’s showcause notices, saying that he had served them after asking the vice-chancellors to put in their papers. The vice-chancellors argued they were denied natural justice as they had not been heard before being asked to quit.