JUDGMENT :

The petitioner, who is stated to be an elected member of the Senate of the University of Kerala (the ‘University’ for short), seeks that the Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted by the Chancellor of the said University, as per Ext.P3, be directed to be proceeded with the process of selection to the post of its Vice Chancellor.

2. Sri.George Poonthottam – learned Senior Counsel, instructed by Smt.Ann Mariya Francis, appearing for the petitioner, explained the genesis of the controversy, saying that when the erstwhile Vice Chancellor of the University was nearing his term – which was to end on 24.10.2022 -the Chancellor called upon the Senate to nominate their member to the Search-cum-Selection Committee, under the provisions of Section 10 of the Kerala University Act, 1974 (the ‘Act’ for short). He asserted that the meeting of the Senate, convened on 15.07.2022, nominated a certain Dr.V.K.Ramachandran as their member; but that on 04.08.2022, he withdrew, citing personal reasons.

3. The learned Senior Counsel then submitted that the Registrar of the University, thereafter, intimated the Office of the Chancellor about the above said development and requested that 'new st