Overview
- A bench of Justices J. B. Pardiwala and P. B. Varale directed the Governor and Chief Minister to agree on candidates by Tuesday or face court-made appointments.
- Attorney General R. Venkataramani told the court the Chancellor prefers Dr. Ciza Thomas for APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Dr. Priya Chandran for the digital university, which the Chief Minister contests in Thomas’s case.
- The Governor’s preference rests on the Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia committees listing Thomas and Chandran in both universities’ four-name shortlists, presented as a marker of merit.
- The court said the “most meritorious” names must be chosen from the vetted panels and listed the matter for further hearing next week.
- The standoff follows the Kerala High Court quashing earlier interim VC appointments and an August Supreme Court order giving the Chief Minister a role in recommending shortlisted names.