Kerala Guv Arif Mohd. Khan reiterates stand on Chancellor post

Kochi, Dec 12 (UNI) Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday reiterated his stand on quitting the Chancellor post and clarified that he does not want to talk to the Chief Minister through media on the matter.
Expressing his strong displeasure over the political interference in the appointments of Vice Chancellors in the Universities in the State, the Governor advised the State Government to amend the Acts of the universities to transfer the power of the Governor to the Chief Minister.
The Governor said this in New Delhi today while talking to media persons on his controversial letter sent to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in this regard.
“There is no conflict between me and my Government. I am willing to quit the Chancellor post to avoid conflict with the Government. I don’t want to talk to the Chief Minister through the media on such matters,” he clarified.
The Chief Minister can assume the position of the Chancellor, so that he can carry out his political objectives without any dependence on the Governor, the Governor said in his letter to the Chief Minister a few days ago.
“Once the universities come under the direct control of the government, there will be no scope for anybody to make allegations of political interference,” the Governor said in the letter.
“Since the Assembly is not in session, you can go for an ordinance and I promise that I shall sign the same immediately. Alternatively, you can ask the Advocate General to prepare a legal document through which the Governor can transfer the powers of the Chancellor to the Chief Minister.”
“I am confident it should not be difficult for an Advocate General to find a legal method to do so,” the letter said.
“I request you to act in this matter urgently as it has become impossible for me as Chancellor to protect the universities from the baneful continuous political interference and erosion of their autonomy,” the Governor concluded.
The Governor who is the chancellor of universities was annoyed on various issues including the appointments of vice chancellors of Kannur University and Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit.
“The VC of Kalamandalam deemed the university moved the court against me. The VC was appointed by the State Government. I will not do anything which will affect the sovereignty of universities,” he added.