Arif Mohammad Khan cautions Kerala CM, ministers against lowering of dignity of Guv's office

Thiruvananthapuram:  Upping the ante of war of words between him and the government ,  Kerala Governor,  Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday sounded a word of caution to the Chief Minister and cabinet ministers in the wake of some remarks targeting him and his office. I

In a tweet ,  he warned that strict action would follow if state cabinet ministers and CM issued statements that "lower the dignity of the office of the Governor."

"The CM and Council of Ministers have every right to advise Governor.But statements of individual ministers that lower the dignity of the office of the Governor,can invite action including withdrawal of pleasure," the tweet read. 

The precept is that the members of the Cabinet continue in their position as long as they enjoy the 'pleasure' of the Governor,  but it is also presumed that the governor acts on the recommendation of the chief minister.

In a related development,  Arif Mohammed Khan has called for a list of teachers who have completed 10 years of service at Kerala University, MG University, Kannur University, University of Calicut and Cochin University of Science and Technology to be appointed as temporary Vice Chancellor at Kerala University. The tenure of the Kerala University Vice Chancellor will expire on October 24.

There is already an administrative tug-of-war going on between the governor and the xcabinet on the issue of appointment of vice chancellors of universities in the state. The bill passed by the assembly that amends the clauses regarding the appointment of vice chancellors are already pending with the governor awaiting his assent. 

The bone of contention in the bill is the provision whereby the role of the Governor is curtailed and the proposed expanded committee to select nominees is numerically weighted in favour of the government as against the current acts which allow the will of the governor to prevail in case of difference between the two. 

The bill being kept in abeyance by the Governor, universities may go without a VC on the retirement of incumbents,  and the idea  behind the governor's move may be to appoint temporary VCs from the panel of senior-most professors.