Sarthak Umang
Published on: 14 November 2022 at 20:58 IST
The Kerala High Court quashed the appointment of the VC of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Dr. K. Riji John.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice S. Manikumar and Justice Shaji P. Chaly observed that the selection and recommendation in John’s case was illegal, UGC norms were violated in John’s appointment and has directed the Chancellor to initiate a fresh process for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor by the UGC Regulations
“Taking into consideration the law accordingly, we have no hesitation to hold that the selection of Dr K Riji John as the VC of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, overlooking the UGC Regulations, 2018, cannot be sustained under law. We are also of the view that the search-cum-selection committee constituted is also in violation of the UGC Regulations, 2018,”
The verdict was passed on a petition filed against John’s appointment.
Earlier, the Governor, the Chancellor of the Universities also directed John to furnish his resignation, as the appointment were against the statutes and unlawful.
Further, the Bench also ordered the Chancellor to constitute new selection committee for recommendation of a panel of names in accordance with the UGC regulations at the earliest.
The High Court order came on the pleas moved by the applicants who participated in the selection process to the post of VC of KUFOS challenging the appointment of John.
The pleas challenged the appointment on various grounds, including that the selection committee did not have qualified academicians as per the UGC norms.
Case Title: Dr. K.K. Vijayan v. The Chancellor and Dr. G. Sadasivan Nair v. State of Kerala