Governor Arif Mohammed Khan Criticizes Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Following Unfavorable Verdict

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan Criticizes Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Following Unfavorable Verdict

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of using “pressure tactics” to reappoint Gopinath Ravindran as Vice Chancellor of Kannur University in November 2021. This revelation came after the Supreme Court overturned Ravindran’s reappointment.

In a press statement following the verdict, Governor Khan strongly criticized the Chief Minister’s Office, stating that the “whole pressure was from CMO” and that Vijayan’s “legal advisor” attempted to influence him. Khan clarified that it was not the Education Minister who visited his office, but an individual claiming to be the Chief Minister’s legal advisor.

Despite these allegations, neither the Kerala government nor the Chief Minister has responded to the situation. However, VD Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition, has called for the resignation of the Education Minister.

The court’s ruling reprimanded both parties involved, criticizing the state for “unwarranted intervention” and Governor Khan for relinquishing his statutory powers in the reappointment process. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, invalidated two judgments from the Kerala High Court that upheld the appointment, stating that the decision to reappoint was influenced by extraneous considerations.

While the court did not address the suitability of the candidate, it emphasized that the Chancellor possesses the necessary competence and that no other person can interfere with this statutory authority.

The appointment of Vice Chancellors for state universities has been a source of contention between the Kerala government and the Governor for over a year. The conflict began when the Governor demanded the resignation of nine Vice Chancellors appointed by the state in October 2022.

The ensuing dispute saw the ruling Left Democratic Alliance and the opposition accusing each other of politicizing educational institutions. In response, the Kerala Assembly passed the University Laws (Amendment) Bill in December, which removes the Governor as the Chancellor and replaces them with renowned academicians. The state argued that the Governor’s actions were an encroachment on its powers and that universities should be academically independent.

However, the Governor’s refusal to sign off on the bill has sparked controversy. The Supreme Court has also criticized Governor Khan for delaying his decision on bills passed by the legislature for two years. The University Laws Bill is one of seven bills that the Governor has reserved for consideration, prompting a legal challenge from the state government and a plea for guidelines regarding governors’ assent or decline of bills.