Overview

• Law Minister P. Rajeev and Higher Education Minister R. Bindu met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on August 3 following the Supreme Court’s July 30 order for both sides to hold discussions and break the vice-chancellor appointment impasse.
• They pressed the governor to appoint permanent vice-chancellors from the state’s recommended shortlist, stressing selections must adhere to merit-based and judicially sanctioned norms.
• The ministers objected to the governor’s July 31 reappointment of interim vice-chancellors at Digital University Kerala and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University for bypassing state-nominated panels.
• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has twice written to Governor Arlekar urging that all university leadership posts be filled from the government’s proposed list before any interim designations.
• Kerala’s government indicated it will return to the Supreme Court to legally challenge further delays or deviations from directives on permanent vice-chancellor appointments.