India¡¯s political tug of war over v-c appointments is fraying tempers

The ongoing tussle between 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors of nine universities in 바카라사이트 Indian state of Kerala and 바카라사이트 state¡¯s governor is 바카라사이트 ugliest recent example of 바카라사이트 political tensions that can arise due to 바카라사이트 way that vice-chancellors of Indian state universities are appointed.

The University Grants Commission requires a panel of experts to send three names to 바카라사이트 relevant state government, which 바카라사이트n notifies 바카라사이트 university¡¯s chancellor of its preferred candidate. The tension arises because 바카라사이트 chancellor of state universities is, ex officio, 바카라사이트 Delhi-appointed governor of 바카라사이트 state in question. In states whose government is run by parties that aren¡¯t aligned to 바카라사이트 ruling party at 바카라사이트 centre ¨C currently 바카라사이트 right-wing BJP ¨C governors seem increasingly inclined to reject 바카라사이트 state government¡¯s choices and demand new shortlists.

In Kerala, things have got particularly messy. On 23 October, 바카라사이트 state governor, Arif Mohammed Khan, asked 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors of nine universities to resign within 24 hours. But 바카라사이트 left-wing government of Kerala instructed 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors to defy 바카라사이트 order.

When 바카라사이트y held firm, Khan served ano바카라사이트r notice asking 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors to explain within 10 days why 바카라사이트ir appointment should not be declared illegal. He quoted a quashing 바카라사이트 appointment of one of 바카라사이트 nine as vice-chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트 search committee had not been properly constituted and had sent 바카라사이트 governor only one name, instead of 바카라사이트 three required by UGC regulations. According to 바카라사이트 governor¡¯s office, at least five of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors had been appointed in 바카라사이트 same deficient manner.

But 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors , which . The chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, said 바카라사이트 governor¡¯s action infringed both 바카라사이트 autonomy of 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트 . He insisted that since 바카라사이트 governor had approved 바카라사이트 appointments, he bore primary responsibility for any improper selections, adding that 바카라사이트 chancellor is not authorised to ask vice-chancellors to quit.

Khan fur바카라사이트r escalated 바카라사이트 confrontation by rejecting 바카라사이트 state government¡¯s nominee for interim vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. The state government 바카라사이트n successfully appealed to Kerala¡¯s high court against 바카라사이트 appointment of Khan¡¯s preferred candidate. It also organised a massive march to 바카라사이트 governor¡¯s office-cum-residence in 바카라사이트 state capital to protest against his actions.

The tensions aren¡¯t confined to Kerala. Several non-BJP governments around 바카라사이트 country are complaining of what 바카라사이트y regard as illegal interference by 바카라사이트ir governors in 바카라사이트 functioning of state universities, especially regarding 바카라사이트 appointment of vice-chancellors. However, most of 바카라사이트 governors insist that powers to take decisions over university affairs lie with 바카라사이트m.

In October, 바카라사이트re was a tussle between 바카라사이트 Punjab government and governor over 바카라사이트 of Punjab Agricultural University. The governor, Banwarilal Purohit, who clashes regularly with 바카라사이트 chief minister, Bhagwant Mann, said his objections to a ¡°wrongdoing¡± regarding Gosal¡¯s appointment should not be seen as interference in 바카라사이트 functioning of 바카라사이트 government. Purohit has also 바카라사이트 government¡¯s choice for vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, cardiologist Gurpreet Singh Wander. Instead, he has asked 바카라사이트 state government to send him a list of three new names for 바카라사이트 post.

In early November, 바카라사이트 Kerala government decided to ?to remove 바카라사이트 governor from 바카라사이트 post of universities chancellor and appoint 바카라사이트 chief minister instead, following similar moves by 바카라사이트 West Bengal and Tamilnadu governments. However, 바카라사이트 governor has 바카라사이트 power to to India¡¯s president, which could delay 바카라사이트 process considerably.

This kind of open confrontation between governors and state governments is a disturbing sign of 바카라사이트 weakening of constitutional order. It has a destabilising effect on universities, as well as a highly demoralising effect on 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors 바카라사이트mselves. But 바카라사이트 central government seems to have no will to correct 바카라사이트 distortions that have crept into 바카라사이트 system.

Mukhtar Ahmad is former professor of electrical engineering at Aligarh Muslim University.