CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said the governor was made the chancellor of the universities of Kerala through a law passed by the state assembly and the legislature has always had the liberty to strike down the law. So the government should not be compelled to take such a step.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said that his government does not intend to retain the post of chancellor of universities in the state and Governor Arif Mohammad Khan will continue in the post.
The Governor has said that he does not need to say anything to the Chief Minister through the media. He sees no reason to withdraw his decision to step down.
Talking to reporters on Monday, Rajendran also raised questions on the need for the post of Governor. Hitting out at Khan, the CPI leader said his party felt the governor’s post was an “unnecessary show off”.
Rajendran also accused Khan of violating the secrecy to be maintained in communication between the governor and the government.
“The governor has violated that principle,” the senior Left leader told reporters.
The Governor had written a letter to the Chief Minister on December 8. In the letter, he had said that he was annoyed that the CPI(M)-led government in the state was handling the affairs of the universities by curtailing his authority as the chancellor of universities.
The governor is upset over the recent extension of Professor Gopinath Raveendran’s tenure as Kannur University vice-chancellor by four years and an amendment to the Universities Act passed by the state assembly. According to sources, this amendment has taken away the power of the Chancellor to appoint the University Appellate Tribunal.
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