Kerala VC Appointments|Supreme Court Expresses Disappointment Over Continued Deadlock; Asks Justice Dhulia Committee To Re-Look Into Matter

The Supreme Court, amid the ongoing conflict between the Kerala Governor and the State Government regarding the appointment of regular Vice Chancellors for two universities, ordered the Justice Dhulia-led committee to re-examine the matter and submit a single, comprehensive recommendation.

The Bench was hearing the matter related to the appointments of the Vice Chancellors of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the University of Digital Sciences Innovation and Technology.

The Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan ordered, "Despite the best of our efforts, the deadlock continues till this date. The Chancellor and the Chief Minister have not been able to reach to any consensus as regarding the appointment of any particular person as a Vice Chancellor in the two universities. The entire exercise has been taken by the committee headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia. It was expected that the Chancellor and the Chief Minister would reach to some consensus and finalise the name. However, unfortunately, nothing has been done so far except the exchange of letters...We are of the view that in such circumstances, we should request the committee headed by Justice Dhulia to look into the matter once again. We request the committee to give us one particular name for both the universities in a sealed cover. We request the committee to undertake this exercise by next Thursday. We also request that the committee report be received by Wednesday so that the matter can be taken next Thursday."

 Attorney General R. Venkataramani appeared for the Governor of the State of Kerala, whereas Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta appeared for the State of Kerala. 

The Court also refused to open a sealed envelope, which was given by the AG Venkataramani, containing the Chancellor's response to the Chief Minister's letter concerning the matter.

Having already shortlisted the contenders, the committee had noted that one woman candidate was found to possess the required merit for appointment at either of the two universities.

According to Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, the Chief Minister reserved judgment on just one candidate, deeming her unsuitable due to past Vice-Chancellor experience. However, the AG maintained the Chancellor's support for the female candidate, noting her role as head of multiple government committees.

On December 5, 2025, the Court remarked that if the State of Kerala and the Governor fail to reach a consensus regarding the appointment of the Vice Chancellors of State Universities, then the Court will intervene and make the appointment.

Previously, the Court appointed former Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, as the Chairman of Search-cum-Selection Committee to facilitate the appointment of regular Vice-Chancellors for APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology.

Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the Governor of Kerala, in his capacity as the Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court challenging the judgment passed by the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court upholding the State Government’s invocation of Section 13(7) of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Act, 2015 to make temporary Vice Chancellor appointments, despite non-compliance with the eligibility conditions prescribed under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018.

The Supreme Court also permitted the Kerala Governor (Chancellor) to appoint temporary Vice-Chancellors (VCs) to two Universities in the state, pending permanent appointment. The Apex Court also urged the Kerala Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, and the State of Kerala, to cooperate in resolving the ongoing dispute over the appointment of Vice Chancellors, emphasising the need to safeguard the interests of students.

Earlier, on August 13, 2025, the Supreme Court while hearing the Kerala Governor’s petition challenging the Kerala High Court’s decision upholding the State’s interpretation of the law on temporary Vice-Chancellor appointments, said it would itself constitute a Search Committee to facilitate the appointment of regular Vice-Chancellors for APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, after the State of Kerala and the Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor, failed to reach a consensus on the process.

Accordingly, the matter is now listed for a further date.

Cause Title: The Chancellor, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University v. State of Kerala & Ors. [Diary No. 40761/2025]