Rare thaw: Kerala Governor, CM resolve V-C row, agree on 2 names

On Tuesday, Lok Bhavan in a communication said a meeting was held between the Chief Minister and the Governor on the matter of appointment of V-Cs to the two universities. They decided on the names of Dr Ciza Thomas as the V-C of the Technological University and Dr Saji Gopinathan as the V-C of Digital Sciences University. The office of the Governor, who is also the chancellor of these universities, issued the notification formalising the appointments on Tuesday.

Both sides buried their differences two days before the Supreme court was slated to consider the names suggested by the Dhulia committee. The decision will be reported to the Supreme court on December 18 (Thursday).

The deadlock between Arlekar and Pinarayi was over these two names only. While the Governor wanted Ciza to be appointed at the Technological University, the CPI(M) government was against the proposal. Ciza, who had earlier been temporary V-C at the same university, had faced the CPI(M) wrath on many occasions. The government had even withheld her pension after retirement as the principal of an engineering college. The CM finally conceded to Ciza’s name.

On the other hand, the Governor agreed to Pinarayi’s demand that Saji be appointed at the Digital University. Saji had earlier served as the V-C of the same university. The Governor had selected another name for the varsity but conceded to the government’s choice.

The Governor has been critical of the Supreme Court’s intervention in the V-C appointment. Speaking at a function on Sunday, he said that the health of democratic functioning depends upon institutions “knowing and respecting” their limits. He said that the power to amend the Constitution is vested with Parliament and elected legislature, and the courts are there to “interpret the Constitution and not to amend the Constitution”. “Contradictory interpretations and verdicts on the same matter are not in the true spirit of the Constitution,” he said.