21-05-2025
Governor urged to intervene in KTU BoG controversy
The Confederation of University Employees Organisations, Kerala, has urged Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to direct APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) Vice-Chancellor in-charge K. Sivaprasad to cancel the Board of Governors (BoG) meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday.
In a formal communication, the organisation flagged various 'illegalities' in convening the special BoG meeting. It highlighted the recent judgement of the Kerala High Court, which deemed the notification issued by the Chancellor appointing Prof. Sivaprasad as the Vice-Chancellor 'not sustainable in law.'
The confederation also cited Section 26(1) of the University Act, which mandates that the meeting of the BoG should be convened on the dates fixed by the Vice-Chancellor 'in the manner decided by the BoG.' In addition, Section 26(3) of the Act states that the Vice-Chancellor 'may upon a requisition in writing signed by not less than one half of the total number of members of the BoG, convene a special meeting'. The organisation stated that the proposed meeting is illegal since it is being convened without fulfilling such statutory requirements.
Meanwhile, Students Federation of India (SFI) activists attempted to barge into the Vice-Chancellor's office, prompting the police to forcibly remove the protesters. Demanding Prof. Sivaprasad's resignation on account of the HC order, the activists burnt an effigy in front of the university office.
