Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan slams V-C for defying his direction

The Indian Express could not get Pillai for a comment despite repeated attempts.

Pillai’s reluctance to place the Governor’s recommendation before the Syndicate was one of the reasons behind the stand-off between the state government and Khan. Last month, Khan had written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, stating that he wants to step down as chancellor of state universities due to “continuous political interference” in universities, and “erosion of their autonomy”.

On Monday, Khan said, “I had given him (V-C) direction to convene the Syndicate meeting to discuss the issue of conferring DLitt on the highest dignitary of the country. He sought the opinion of individual members, but he did not convene the meeting. Somebody else seems to have given him instructions.”

Khan said he had suggested conferring DLitt on Kovind, as it would be an honour for the university. “I have given the V-C clear direction to convene the Syndicate. He has defied the Chancellor, who has the power to take disciplinary action. So far, I have refrained from taking action, but this cannot go on,” he said.

When Pillai informed that DLitt cannot be conferred on the President, Khan said he summoned the V-C to Raj Bhavan on December 7 last year to explain his stand. Khan said Pillai had given him in writing that the recommendation was turned down by members of the Syndicate.

At Raj Bhavan, Khan maintained, Pillai could not communicate or convey it properly. “I was stunned how anyone can use such language,” he said.

Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan said Khan and the government has insulted the President’s office. “The Governor should have taken stringent action against illegal actions of the government and the university,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha member K C Venugopal has written to the President, drawing his attention to the controversy and urging him to “seek a detailed report on these unwarranted events and take appropriate action to settle this matter”.

“I wish to draw your attention to the most unfortunate and highly regrettable events that have unfolded in the last few days in Kerala, where your esteemed office has been dragged into bitter controversies and political disputations,” Venugopal wrote. “A concerted attempt to lower the constitutional dignity of the post of President was kicked off by unwarranted statements and vested interests of the Governor of Kerala and the Government of Kerala, perversely dragging the constitutional office of your highness.”

He urged the President to “issue a reprimand to those concerned with a clear warning to desist from involving the Office of President of India in their personal wrangling and point scoring exercise”.

Narrating the sequence of events, Venugopal stated, “these unprecedented events and unwarranted controversy have unfortunately led to the derogation of the esteemed constitutional post of Rashtrapati ji in the eyes of public. The Governor, being the protector and defender of the constitution, has crossed the Lakshman Rekha of self- restraint and used the esteemed office of your highness to square political accounts.” —Inputs from ENS, Delhi