New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) The Supreme Court today indicated it will itself constitute a Search Committee to facilitate the appointment of regular Vice-Chancellors for APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, after the Kerala Government and the Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor, failed to agree on the process.
A Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan was hearing the Kerala Governor’s petition challenging the Kerala High Court’s decision upholding the State’s interpretation of the law on temporary Vice-Chancellor appointments.
Appearing for the Chancellor, Attorney General R. Venkatramani, assisted by Senior Advocate P. Sreekumar, maintained that the Governor had acted strictly in line with judicial directions.
Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, for the State, acknowledged that “we tried, but it seems we have gone the wrong way”, citing disputes over the composition of the Search Committee under the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Act.
Justice Pardiwala questioned the delay in regular appointments, proposing that the Court itself constitute a Search Committee with four nominees from each side and one from the UGC.
“The Chancellor and the State Government should sit for a cup of coffee,” he remarked, while cautioning against aggravating disputes over temporary appointments.
The Bench directed both parties to submit their nominees by tomorrow morning and stated it would list the matter at the top of the Board for further directions.
The Governor’s petition challenges the Kerala High Court’s July 14, 2025 judgment that upheld the State’s reliance on Section 13(7) of the 2015 Act to make temporary VC appointments beyond the six-month statutory cap, allegedly in breach of UGC Regulations.
The Governor contends that such appointments must comply with UGC norms and cannot be extended indefinitely.
On July 30, 2025, the Supreme Court had permitted the Governor to issue fresh notifications for temporary VCs strictly within the six-month limit, urging both sides to cooperate and keep politics out of the matter to safeguard students’ interests.
