Kochi: The Kerala High Court has struck down the appointment of Dr Riji John, Vice Chancellor (VC) of KUFOS (Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Stufies).
The action was taken on the grounds that the appointment was not made in accordance with the UGC regulations.
The verdict came on the petition filed by Dr Sadashivan Nair, from Kadavantra, Ernakulam and Dr. K.K. Vijayan. The court order represents a major setback for the government in the context of a tussle between the governor and the government mainly surrounding the appointments of VC's in various universities.
The governor had dismissed nine VC's on the grounds that the appointments did not comply with UGC norms, in follow up of the Supreme Court's cancellation of one appointment, in the case of VC appointment Kerala Technological University.
For the KUFOS VC appointment, the High Court ordered the formation of a new search committee under the UGC rules. A division bench headed by the Chief Justice heard the petitions.
On January 23, 2021, Dr. Riji John was appointed as KUFOS VC. He had come from Fisheries University and was appointed Dean. The petitioners alleged that the period of three years he spent for completing his PhD was treated as teaching work experience to become VC against UGC norms, and the court upheld the contention.
According to UGC regulations, one should have ten years' teaching experience to become vice chancellor.
The petitioners also cited that Dr John had faced departmental investigation several times in Tamil Nadu University, and there were financial allegations against John and he had to resign from there because of this.
The petitioners pointed out that Riji John was not nominated as VC by a committee, as specified in the UGC regulations, and instead of a panel of nominees only the name of one nominee was submitted.