Supreme Court Appoints Retired Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia As Chairman Of Committee For Appointment Of VCs In Kerala Universities

Today, the Supreme Court appointed former Judge of Supreme Court, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as 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.

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.

The Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Vishwanathan heard the matter and observed that the Committee shall complete its task within one month

At the outset, Justice Pardiwala asked the Counsel appearing for the Parties concerned whether the list of names to constitute the Search Committee was ready.

Upon which, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for the State, referred to previous Orders of the Court and sought that a Chairman be appointed for the Search and Selection Committee.

Gupta informed the Court that five names each have been given by the State for two Universities. While, Advocate appearing for the Chancellor submitted that they have given eight named for both Universities.

Upon which, Justice Pardiwala said, "We will appoint Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as Chairperson for Search-cum-Selection Committee for two Universities....It will be within Chairperson's discretion to finalise the Committee."

The Bench also suggested that it will keep the matter pending as of now.

Subsequently, the Court recorded in its Order, "We appoint Hon'ble Justice Mr. Sudhanshu Dhulia, former Judge of this Court, as Chairperson of Search-cum-Selection Committee for both the Universities."

The Supreme Court further authorised the constitution of a separate or joint Search-cum-Selection Committee for two Universities.

Further, the Chairperson will preside over both the Committees and the composition of each such Committee would be five. "Let the two members be from the list of Chancellor and two from the list of State, however, ultimately we leave it to the discretion of the Chairperson", Justice Pardiwala recorded in the Order.

Further, the Department of Education, Government of Kerala was nominated as the Nodal Department for the State Government.

The Bench further recorded in its Order that the Committee shall complete its task within one month.

Background

The petition filed by the Kerala Governor challenges the Kerala High Court's judgment dated July 14, 2025, which upheld the State’s reliance on Section 13(7) of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Act, 2015, to make temporary appointments despite the six-month statutory cap and alleged non-compliance with University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations.

The petition asserts that the Governor, as Chancellor, cannot be compelled by the State Government to appoint Vice Chancellors in violation of binding UGC norms. It argues that the appointments made under Section 13(7) are only permissible for six months and that the High Court erred in permitting continued tenure under the “until further orders” phrasing.

It states, “The UGC Regulations do not provide for a concept of temporary Vice Chancellors… The person to be appointed should be of quality and standard as provided in the UGC Regulations.”

The petition also asserts that none of the State Government’s recommended candidates met the academic eligibility criteria under the 2018 UGC Regulations, and that Section 13(7) cannot be invoked repeatedly to bypass central standards.

On July 30, 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the Kerala Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor, to issue fresh notifications appointing temporary Vice-Chancellors for APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology strictly within the six-month limit prescribed under the respective University Acts, emphasised that politics should not enter the matter, that the focus must remain on students’ education, and urged both the Governor and the State to cooperate until the stalled process for regular appointments is completed.

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

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