Kochi : The Division Bench on Wednesday upheld the re-appointment of Dr. Gopinath Ravindran as Kannur University Vice Chancellor. The Bench headed by the Chief Justice dismissed petition challenging the Single Bench ruling in this regard.
The appeal petition submitted by university Senate member Dr. Premchandran Keezhoth and others argued that re-appointment of VC violated the law. The court acknowledged government submission that the re-appointment gained approval from the Governor.
The Governor, also the University Chancellor, informed the court that the said re-appointment was approved based on expert advice from the Advocate General and government instruction.
The re-appointment is a continuance of existing post and does not call for appointment procedures via Selection Committee, the govt said. The limitation of age 60 does not apply in case of a re-appointment. UGC rules do not state an age-bar or term limitation for re-appointment, it added.
The court rejected the petitioners contention that re-appointment was in fact a fresh appointment that stipulated processing via Selection Committee. The petitioners also stated that the notification for VC appointment was withdrawn following letter from a minister and that such intervention was unlawful.
