Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has reappointed Mohanan Kunnummal as Vice Chancellor of the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) for five years, effective October 26. This decision has ignited controversy, with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) condemning the action as undemocratic and unprecedented.
Kunnummal’s original term was set to expire on October 25. The Governor’s appointment order also designates him as the interim Vice Chancellor of the University of Kerala until a permanent replacement is found. Critics, including state Health Minister Veena George and LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan, argue that the Chancellor’s unilateral decision violates established protocols, which typically allow for a six-month extension only until a new Vice Chancellor is appointed.
Ramakrishnan highlighted that appointments in state-funded universities should be made in consultation with the government, criticizing the Governor’s actions as interference that undermines the progress of educational institutions in Kerala. Minister George further stated that such unilateral decisions compromise constitutional and democratic values.
The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has labeled the reappointment as an excessive use of power, asserting that the Chancellor’s actions are contributing to a crisis in Kerala’s universities. In protest, teachers across the state have announced plans to observe a “black day” on October 25 to express their dissent against the Governor’s decision.
This situation underscores the ongoing tensions between the state government and the Governor’s office regarding educational governance in Kerala.
