Supreme Court Demands Action on Kerala's Vice Chancellor Panel Report

The Supreme Court has ordered the Kerala Governor, Rajendra Arlekar, to act on the Sudhanshu Dhulia committee report regarding vice chancellor appointments. The court emphasized the significance of the report and demanded a decision by December 5, urging the governor to address delays and abide by the panel's recommendations.

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has mandated that Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar immediately address the findings of the Sudhanshu Dhulia committee report, which scrutinizes the appointment of vice chancellors for two state universities. The bench, led by justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, has stressed the importance and legal weight of the document.

Citing concerns raised by senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, representing the Kerala government, the court noted the ongoing delay despite Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's submission of recommendations based on Dhulia's work. The recommendations pertain to appointments at APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology.

The justices have set a deadline of December 5 for the governor to make a decision and communicate with the Supreme Court. They highlighted the urgency of resolving this academic impasse, underscoring that the committee, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Dhulia, was sanctioned by all parties involved in the matter.

(With inputs from agencies.)