<p>The committee for appointing VCs at KTU and DUK was formed based on a Supreme Court order. However, the governor directly appointed the search committee in CU's case. Following a high court order, a representative from the CU senate was later included in the committee in line with university regulations.</p> — The committee for appointing VCs at KTU and DUK was formed based on a Supreme Court order. However, the governor directly appointed the search committee in CU’s case. Following a high court order, a representative from the CU senate was later included in the committee in line with university regulations.

T’puram: With state govt and the governor reaching a consensus on the selection of vice-chancellors (VC) at Kerala Technological University (KTU) and Kerala University of Digital Sciences (DUK) and jointly moving towards appointing a new VC at Calicut University (CU), Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) urged the governor to fast-track the appointment of VCs in the remaining 10 state universities. Of the 14 state universities in Kerala, only three currently have permanent VCs.In a memorandum submitted to the governor, SUCC asked him to show the same diligence in appointing academically-brilliant candidates as VCs in other universities that are now without permanent heads. Meanwhile, the search committee appointed by the governor met shortlisted candidates who are eligible for appointment as CU VC on Sunday and Monday.

The committee for appointing VCs at KTU and DUK was formed based on a Supreme Court order. However, the governor directly appointed the search committee in CU’s case. Following a high court order, a representative from the CU senate was later included in the committee in line with university regulations.

The committee included G U Kulkarni of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, as chairperson and representative of the governor (chancellor). Ravindran D Kulkarni, VC of Mumbai University, served as the UGC representative while R Ram Kumar of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, represented the university senate.

The committee invited 37 applicants for interviews over the past two days. The applicants included senior professors from Kerala University, Calicut University, Kannur University and MG University, along with candidates from outside the state. Kerala Lok Bhavan’s liaison officer handled the committee’s operational work. As per UGC regulations, the governor will appoint the VC from a panel of three or five names submitted by the search committee.