Legal
Supreme Court Invalidates Re-Appointment Of Kannur University Vice-Chancellor, Cites "Unwarranted Interference" By Kerala Government
Bhuvan Krishna
Nov 30, 2023, 01:55 PM | Updated 02:11 PM IST
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On Thursday (30 November), the Supreme Court invalidated the re-appointment of Professor Gopinathan Raveendran as the vice-chancellor of Kannur University, citing "unwarranted interference" by the Kerala government, as reported by Deccan Herald.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, asserted that the Governor, acting as the chancellor, holds the authority to appoint or re-appoint the vice-chancellor under the Act, 1996 (Kannur University Act, 1996).
The judgment highlighted that any decision influenced by a person lacking statutory authority renders the process illegal.
The court observed interference from the state government in the re-appointment, noting the chancellor's relinquishment of statutory powers.
The appeal challenged the Kerala High Court's February 2022 decision supporting the re-appointment, which the Supreme Court overturned, nullifying the 23 November 2021, notification for Professor Raveendran's continuation as vice-chancellor.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan previously alleged political motivations behind the appointment and accused the vice-chancellor of adversely impacting the university through various "unlawful appointments."
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Bhuvan Krishna is Staff Writer at Swarajya.
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