Chancellor because of national consensus, not by the sweet will of state, says Kerala Guv

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the tussle between the left-led state government of Kerala and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, the executive head of the state, said on Monday that the position he holds as the Chancellor of universities by virtue of his governorship is "not because of sweet will of any state government" but according to the "national convention and consensus".

He further said that his duty as Chancellor was to ensure there was no executive interference in universities, and this is why Governors, by virtue of their position, hold the office of Chancellor.

"The Governor was Chancellor of universities even before Kerala came into existence in 1956. This is something on which a national consensus was built and a national convention evolved. Why? So that there is no executive interference in universities and their autonomy is safeguarded. They (the government) cannot break a national convention or national consensus. It is beyond their powers. Let them try," he said to the media.

Further, He said that nepotism in university appointments cannot be allowed, referring to the controversial appointment of Priya Varghese, wife of CM's private secretary to the Post of Associate professor at Kannur University. He alleged CM's office staff of giving directions to VC in appointing professors. Taking a dig at CM Pinarayi Vijayan, he said that if CM was unaware of what was happening in his office, then he is "incompetent."

"If he (CM) knew about it, then he is equally guilty," Khan said.

He rejected that there is no "cleansing act" happening in Universities, instead they "have to be restored to their pristine glory".

Responding to queries about the ordinance to remove him as Chancellor and other moves in that direction by the Kerala government, Khan said these were attempts by the state government to "divert attention" from recent court orders and "cover up the embarrassment" caused to them as a result.

"What are they basically doing now? They are upset with judicial verdicts and they want to divert attention to the Governor. That will not happen. If they break the law, the Governor is the first reviewing authority, but it will ultimately go to the courts. They are only doing what they are doing now, to cover up the embarrassment caused," he said.

His remarks come in the wake of the state government reportedly gearing up to enact legislation, in the coming Assembly session in December, to remove the Governor as Chancellor of universities and replace him with eminent academicians.

-PTI Inputs