Governor AM Khan suspends resolutions targeting KTU VC Thomas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor AM Khan once again put his foot down to negate CPM efforts to unsettle the functioning of KTU's VC-in-charge Ciza Thomas by suspending the resolutions adopted by the technological university syndicate and board of governors targeting her.
Khan suspended the resolutions on the appointment of a syndicate sub-committee to look after the daily governance of KTU overlooking Thomas whom Khan had appointed against the government's wish. He also suspended the appointment of a committee to review the transfer of varsity employees by the VC and the resolution that the chancellor should report to the syndicate all correspondence between her and the chancellor.
Earlier, Thomas had informed Khan that a set of decisions taken by the syndicate and the board of governors went against the provisions of the university act.
"Invoking the provisions under Section 10[3] of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Act, 2015, Hon'ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan, as Chancellor, has suspended the Resolutions of the Syndicate and Board of Governors of the University (vide Item Nos. S-041 OA6 and GB-019-R01) dated 1-01-2023 and 17-02-2023. The vice-chancellor had dissented to the Resolutions," said the communication from Raj Bhavan that confirmed Khan's action.
As per Section 10 of the University Act, the chancellor has the right to make changes or suspend decisions taken by university bodies if they are not in sync with the provisions in the Act. Though the government gave a three-member panel to Khan after HC directed the government to do so, the governor is yet to act on it.
The HC order on Feb 16 upheld the government's right to choose the VC-in-charge of KTU. However, the court had refused its demand to cancel Thomas' appointment after SC declared the selection of former VC MS Rajasree as ab initio void, leading to an administrative crisis at KTU.