Ramachandran Nair, J.

1. The connected Writ Appeals are filed against common judgment of the learned Single Judge vacating the orders of nomination of Senate members by the Chancellor under the category reserved for Heads of Departments of the University as provided under Section 17 (13) of the Kerala University Act, 1974 (hereinafter called "the Act"). We have heard Senior counsel appearing for the appellants and counsel appearing for some of the contesting parties, all of whom took notice on admission and argued the matter.

2. Writ Petition was filed by the Head of the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries which is a Department under the University of Kerala, first respondent in both the Writ Appeals, challenging appointment of seven Heads of Departments of the University as Senate Members by the Chancellor based on the recommendation of the Vice Chancellor. The learned Single Judge found that the selection by the Vice Chancellor was not in accordance with the statutory provision and all what the Chancellor did was to approve the list of candidates sent by the Vice Chancellor for selection. The appellants' case is that the Vice Chancellor prepared the list of el