Has any governor taken such steps?' VCs asked to step down as Kerala Education Minister

 

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has asked vice-chancellors of nine universities to step down by 11:30 am on Monday.

This is the latest standoff between the Kerala Governor and the ruling LDF.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's instructions to the Vice-Chancellors of nine universities to resign have sparked a huge controversy among political parties in the state. The ruling Left Democratic Fund (LDF) announced several protests, with the state's education minister saying the governor's directive had created an "unfortunate situation".

Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu insisted on condemning the move, asking: "Has any governor of the country taken such measures?"

“This can be seen as an attempt to interfere in government activities. Our universities are making extraordinary achievements,” she further reported, news agency ANI reported, as the ruling party mounted a fresh standoff against the governor.

Governor Khan's office said in a tweet that nine vice-chancellors have been asked to step down by 11:30 am on Monday. The Governor of Kerala has cited the order of the Supreme Court to take the decision.

Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Sri Shankaracharya Sanskrit University, Calicut University and Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University are the nine universities that are mentioned in the list. Posted with tweet.

Meanwhile, the LDF is planning a protest against the directive as it said that Governor Khan was "trying to implement the Sangh Parivar agenda" in the state universities. Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan and CPI state secretary Kanam said, "LDF will hold protest meetings in every district headquarters and a big rally will be organized outside Raj Bhavan on November 15." Rajendran.

The apex court had on Friday quashed the appointment of Dr Rajshree MS, V-C of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, citing violation of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.