Kerala HC stays Governor’s nomination to state university senate

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed the nomination of four students to the Senate of Kerala University by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, an appointment he made as chancellors of universities in the state.
Justice T R Ravi stayed the nomination of four students to the university senate on two separate petitions filed by some students of the university.

As per University norms, the Chancellor will nominate four students (one each in Humanities, Sciences, Sports and Fine Arts) of outstanding merit to the Senate of the University.

“There shall be an interim stay on the operation of Extension P9 (Chancellor’s Nomination) in so far as nomination to the Senate of the second respondent (University of Kerala) to the vacancies of students with outstanding ability in Fine Arts and Sports is concerned.” A period of two weeks,” the order said.

Khan’s nomination has become a major controversy in the state and CPI(M)’s student wing SFI protested against him, saying he is pushing people associated with ABVP and Sangh Parivar into universities.

The court has also issued notice to the Governor’s nominees.

“It is submitted that even though the petitioners were the only two students who were found eligible for nomination under the Fine Arts and Sports categories, the reason for which was best known to the first respondent (Chancellor), the fourth and fifth respondents (nominated “Chancellor (Chancellor) who was not included in the list has been found to have been nominated in place of the petitioners,” one petition said.