New Delhi – In a strong message to the Kerala government and Raj Bhavan, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the immediate appointment of permanent Vice Chancellors (VCs) in state universities, warning that students should not be made scapegoats in political conflicts.
The directive came from a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan while hearing a petition filed by the Kerala Governor challenging a High Court verdict that had quashed the appointments of temporary VCs.
“Universities cannot function in a vacuum,” the court remarked, stressing that academic institutions must not be paralyzed due to prolonged disputes. It allowed the reappointment of two previously ousted VCs in a temporary capacity until permanent appointments are made.
The court also ordered that the process to appoint full-time VCs at Kerala Technological University and Digital University be initiated immediately. In a rare show of firmness, the court urged both the Governor and the state government to rise above politics and prioritize student welfare.
The judgment comes amid an ongoing standoff between Kerala’s ruling government and the Governor over university appointments — a deadlock the court said is “directly hurting students and derailing higher education.”
