In a significant political thaw, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have resolved their prolonged standoff over the appointment of vice-chancellors to two key state universities. The consensus was reached just two days before the Supreme Court was scheduled to consider recommendations from an independent committee.
A Consensus Forged Ahead of Court Date
The breakthrough came after the Supreme Court directed a committee, headed by retired Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, to compile a list of potential candidates for the V-C posts. Following this intervention, a meeting was convened at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The outcome was a mutual agreement on two names: Dr. Ciza Thomas for the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Dr. Saji Gopinathan for the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology.
The Governor's office, which also serves as the chancellor for these universities, formalized the appointments with an official notification on the same day. This decision will be formally reported to the Supreme Court on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Breaking Down the Political Deadlock
The core of the disagreement between the Raj Bhavan and the CPI(M)-led state government centered precisely on these two appointments. Governor Arlekar had strongly advocated for Dr. Ciza Thomas's appointment at the Technological University, a move the state government initially opposed.
Dr. Thomas, who had served as the temporary V-C of the same university earlier, has had a contentious relationship with the ruling party. The government had previously withheld her pension following her retirement as a college principal. In a notable concession, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ultimately agreed to her name.
In a reciprocal compromise, Governor Arlekar acceded to the Chief Minister's preference for Dr. Saji Gopinathan to lead the Digital Sciences University. Dr. Gopinathan is a former V-C of that institution. The Governor, who had initially selected a different candidate for this role, yielded to the government's choice, paving the way for the resolution.
Context and Broader Implications
This resolution marks a rare moment of cooperation in what has been a series of conflicts between the Governor's office and the Kerala government over university appointments. The timing is crucial, as it preempts further judicial scrutiny. Governor Arlekar has previously expressed reservations about the judiciary's role in such administrative matters.
Speaking at an event on Sunday, December 14, he emphasized that the health of democracy depends on institutions respecting their constitutional limits. He stated that the power to amend the Constitution rests with Parliament, while the courts' role is to interpret it. "Contradictory interpretations and verdicts on the same matter are not in the true spirit of the Constitution," he remarked, highlighting the underlying tensions between constitutional authorities.
The successful negotiation not only fills critical leadership vacancies in two prominent technological universities but also sets a precedent for resolving similar disputes through dialogue, albeit under the shadow of judicial intervention.
