The Supreme Court, today, has 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.

The Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice PB Varale 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.

Attorney General R. Venkatramani submitted before the Court that the Selection Committee had given two names, and the Chancellor found two figures in two universities. "But I believe the Chief Minister has some difficulty with these names.", he told.

Upon which, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for the State, said, "The very names that the Chief Minister had indicated were not acceptable, ...were the only names the Chancellor has accepted."

Justice Pardiwala said, "The Committee which we constituted, recommended four names, four names one university and four names for another...if you all can work it out, then its fine, otherwise we will appoint...You all will have to reach to some consensus, and if you all are unable to reach to some consensus, then the intervention of the Court is the only option."

"We will try to avoid that as far as possible...One small request, the Chancellor, in order to place his points of view, the records before the Selection Committee should be placed before him, he will be able to say whether he will be right or wrong." Attorney General replied.

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]

Justice JB PardiwalaJustice Prasanna B. VaraleKerala Governor

Aastha Kaushik