Overview

• A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan ruled that Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar may appoint interim vice-chancellors at APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology until permanent leaders are selected.
• The ruling overturns a Kerala High Court division bench decision of July 14 that had quashed the Governor’s November notifications installing Dr. K. Sivaprasad and Dr. Ciza Thomas without state government recommendations.
• The justices emphasized that interim appointments need not follow ministerial advice under UGC regulations and underscored the Chancellor’s discretionary authority.
• Attorney General R Venkataramani and senior counsel for Kerala were asked to initiate the formal vice-chancellor selection process without delay despite a pending challenge to the search committee’s constitution.
• The court confirmed that acting vice-chancellors may continue in office or be replaced through fresh notifications to prevent governance gaps during the pending appeal.