Governor appoints interim V-Cs to KTU, digital university

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday appointed interim Vice-Chancellors in the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University and the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, signalling an end to the impasse following the failure to reach a consensus with the government on selection of V-Cs.

According to a communication issued by Raj Bhavan, K. Sivaprasad, Professor, Department of Ship Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Vice Chancellor, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University, with immediate effect, until further orders.

Ciza Thomas, Senior Joint Director(Rtd.), Directorate of Technical Education, Thiruvananthapuram, and former Vice Chancellor(i/c), APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, has been appointed Vice-Chancellor, Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, pending the appointment of Vice-Chancellor on a regular basis.

The selection of V-Cs for both the KTU and Digital University Kerala had reached a deadlock, with Mr. Khan and the State government unable to reach a consensus. This had affected administrative and academic matters, including the appointment to teaching positions in the universities.

The appointment of new V-Cs was necessitated after the tenure of DUK V-C Saji Gopinath, who was also the V-C in charge of KTU, ended in October.

The Governor had earlier conveyed his objections to the panel of senior professors submitted by the government to officiate as V-Cs in both the universities, on the basis of a Supreme Court judgment.

However, the government countered the stance by citing a directive of a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court making it necessary to appoint V-Cs from the government’s panels.

Published - November 27, 2024 07:25 pm IST