Kerala: Governor P Sathasivam criticised by UDF & LDF for holding vice-chancellors' meet

KOCHI: Kerala Governor P Sathasivam has come in for sharp criticism from the ruling party and Opposition for convening a meeting of vice-chancellors of the universities in the state in his capacity as the Chancellor.

Addressing a press conference at Thiruvananthapuram, KPCC vicepresident MM Hassan said that by convening a meeting of vice-chancell lors, the Governor was interfering in the day-to-day affairs of the university.

"It is an encroachment on the power of the government," he said. The Chancellors Council that the Governor is setting up has no legal sanctity, he said. Hassan said that Sathasivam’s actions were not right. "Such a thing has never happened in the state. At this rate, he might even call a meeting of the Cabinet", he said adding that in the current political scenario the actions of the Governor might be politically motivated.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, however, chose not to comment on the matter. On Tuesday, KT Jaleel, the Left Front backed Independent MLA from Thavanoor in Malappuram, had alleged that the Kerala Governor was trying to implement Sangh Parivar agenda in universities in the state.

He said that by not acting in time to address the problems in universities, the Chandy government was allowing the Governor to take control of the universities. According to him, the university governing bodies will soon be filled with the Sangh Parivar nominees.

It is the first time in the history of the state that a governor is setting up a Chancellors Council to improve the quality of education. The governor said that examinations would be held on time and CCTVs would be installed in examination halls.