THE SUPREME COURT on Friday said it would appoint the Vice Chancellors (‘VCs;) of two Kerala State Universities — APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology — if the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Governor Rajendra Ariekar do not resolve their differences over the recommended candidates.
Observing that it would step in and make the appointments if no consensus is arrived at, Justice J.B. Pardiwala heading a bench also comprising Justice P.B. Varale posted the matter for Thursday remarking “Hope there are some developments.”
Appearing for the Kerala government, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta informed the Court that the Chancellor (the Governor) had filed an affidavit explaining his decisions taken by him.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani, representing the Chancellor, submitted that the Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia Committee had recommended two sets of names and the Chancellor picked up two names. “I believe the Chief Minister has some difficulty with these names,” Gupta noted. Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia is a former judge of the Supreme Court.
