Latest news with #K.Sivaprasad
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Govt. to submit panels for appointing interim V-Cs at KTU, DUK
The State government has expedited steps to submit its panels of nominees to be considered for appointment as interim Vice-Chancellors of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and Digital University Kerala (DUK) in light of the Kerala High Court order on temporary Vice-Chancellors. The Higher Education and the Electronics and Information Technology Departments, which oversees the universities respectively, have commenced steps in this regard. Higher Education Minister R. Bindu said the panels will be submitted to the Governor at the earliest. 'The Governor should be ready to adopt necessary action in a democratic manner,' she told media persons on Tuesday. She added that any approach where the State government is denied any say in appointing Vice-Chancellors is autocratic. The Raj Bhavan, on the other hand, is mulling over moving the Supreme Court to 'seek clarity' in the judgement. While it has been examining legal advice on the matter, the Raj Bhavan could raise the contention of University Grants Commission Act and its regulations having precedence over State university laws. A counsel could also be sought on the criteria of appointing temporary Vice-Chancellors, sources said. The Raj Bhavan had appointed K. Sivaprasad and Ciza Thomas as Vice-Chancellors in-charge of KTU and DUK respectively on November 27 last, ignoring the panels submitted by the State government. The Higher Education Department had put forth a panel comprising Senior Joint Director of Technical Education Jayaprakash P., former KTU Registrar A. Praveen and former Syndicate member Vinod Kumar Jacob. In the case of DUK, the Electronics and Information Technology Department had submitted the names of Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment Executive Vice President K.P. Sudheer, former KTU Vice-Chancellor M.S. Rajasree and former Calicut University Vice-Chancellor M.K. Jayaraj for the top post.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC annuls appointment of temporary V-Cs in two universities
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday upheld a Single Bench order of May 19 that had termed as 'not sustainable in law' the appointment of K. Sivaprasad and Ciza Thomas as temporary Vice-Chancellors of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, respectively. Monday's order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice P.V. Balakrishnan, while dismissing an appeal filed by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is also the Chancellor of the two universities, challenging the single judge's order. While Mr. Sivaprasad had earlier been working as Professor, Department of Ship Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Ms. Thomas had retired as Senior Joint Director from the Directorate of Technical Education. The Division Bench said in its judgment that an order of temporary appointment of Vice-Chancellors, issued by the Chancellor in exercise of the powers under Section 13(7) of the Technological University Act or Section 11(10) of the Digital University Act, shall be for a period of not exceeding six months, in the aggregate. Therefore, the Chancellor has no power to issue notifications appointing a person to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor of the two universities, until further orders, pending regular appointment of the Vice-Chancellor. In such circumstances, the single judge cannot be found at fault for declaring the notifications as not sustainable in law, the Bench added. The Bench reminded that the Chancellor and the State Government ought to act proactively to ensure that regular appointment is made to the post of Vice-Chancellor in the universities without any delay. This was after considering the stalemate in the administration of the two universities, which has been continuing for a considerable period, and which harmed their functioning and also the interest of the student community, it said. Advocate General K. Gopalakrishna Kurup submitted that the Chancellor cannot appoint any person to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor of the universities, unless the name was recommended by the government. Referring to Section 13(7) of the Technological University Act, where the vacancy of Vice-Chancellor arises in any of the circumstances enumerated in clauses (i) to (v), the Chancellor may appoint the Vice-Chancellor of any other university or the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the technological university or the Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, as recommended by the government, to be the Vice-Chancellor for a period not exceeding six months in the aggregate. Likewise, as per Section 11(10) of the Digital University Act, if there was a temporary vacancy in the post of Vice-Chancellor due to any unforeseen reason, the Chancellor may appoint the Vice-Chancellor of any other University or the Secretary of the Electronics and Information Technology Department, as recommended by the government, to be the Vice-Chancellor for a period not exceeding six months, in the aggregate, the court observed. Citing observations of the Supreme Court and how universities ought to function in an autonomous manner, the court further said being a leader and head of the institution, the V-C has to play an important role. The V-C functions as a bridge between the executive and academic wings of the university. As per norms, the V-C must be an eminent academician, and excellent administrator and also someone having high moral stature, it said.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
KTU announces NSS awards
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) announced its National Service Scheme (NSS) awards for 2023-24 on Tuesday. University Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) K. Sivaprasad announced the winners. The NSS units and programme officers chosen for the awards are: Mar Baselios Institute of Technology and Science, Shiju Ramachandran; College of Engineering, Adoor, Sreedeepa H. S.; College of Engineering, Cherthala, Priyakumar T. N.; Ilahia College of Engineering and Technology, Arun Kumar M.; KMCT College of Engineering for Women, Reena Abraham; Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre, Rejumon R.; Government Engineering College, Sreekrishnapuram, Askar Ali P.; Thejus Engineering College, Vipin Krishna R.; ACE College of Engineering, Nandu Bhadran; and Baselios Mathews II College of Engineering, Darsana S. Babu.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC orders status quo on V-Cs' appointment till June 6
The Kerala High Court has extended its previous order directing that status quo be maintained with respect to Vice-Chancellors of the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology and the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University until June 6. The interim order came on the appeals filed by the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellors, challenging the judgment of the single Bench, which had held that the appointment as V-Cs of Ciza Thomas (Digital University) and K. Sivaprasad (Technological University) was not in accordance with law, owing to the absence of a recommendation from the State. In his appeal, the Chancellor said the Supreme Court had recognised the independent authority of the Chancellor in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors. He further contended that the requirement of the State government's recommendation under the university Acts was inconsistent with UGC Regulations, 2018. He further contended that the six-month tenure limit applied only under the university Acts, and that the incumbents could continue until regular appointments are made.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC declares unsustainable Chancellor's appointment of temporary V-C for KTU
The Kerala High Court on Monday declared unsustainable a notification issued by the Chancellor appointing K. Sivaprasad, Professor, Department of Ship Technology, Cusat, as temporary Vice-Chancellor of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. Justice Gopinath P., while allowing a writ petition filed by the State government, however, made it clear that the declaration will not have the effect of dislodging Mr. Sivaprasad from the office as his tenure is to expire by May 27. Besides, the court also observed that it need not at present interfere with the appointment as frequent changes of persons holding the office may not be conducive to the interest of the university and its students. The court, meanwhile, upheld the notification of the Chancellor appointing Ciza Thomas as temporary V-C of the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology as it found that the university Act empowered the Chancellor to make such a temporary appointment. The court, while declaring unsustainable the notification on appointment of temporary V-C of the KTU, observed that it is clear that only persons who qualify in terms of the UGC Regulations can be appointed as Vice-Chancellor, even on a temporary basis, under sub-section (7) of Section 13 of the 2015 KTU Act. However, the procedure for such an appointment must commence with the government's recommendation. The government had contended that the Chancellor could not appoint a person who had not been recommended by the government as per the provisions of the Act. 'No provision in Act' As for the appointment of temporary V-C in the digital university, the court noted that the provision in the digital varsity Act does not contemplate any recommendation of the State government for appointment to the post of V-C. The court also directed the State government to recommend the names of persons possessing qualifications prescribed by the UGC Regulations for appointment as temporary V-C at the KTU. It also directed that steps be taken to fill the post of V-C of digital varsity without undue delay.
