CM Pinarayi Vijayan pressurised to ‘reappoint’ Ravindran as Kannur University VC: Kerala Governor

Earlier today, the Supreme Court cancelled the reappointment of Kannur Vice-Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran. Ravindran was reappointed in November 2021 as the VC.

Stroking another controversy, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan pressurised him to appoint Kannur University Vice-Chancellor. Earlier today Supreme Court quashed the Kerala government’s decision to re-appoint Gopinath Ravindran as the VC of Kannur University.

Following the SC judgement, the Kerala Governor speaking to the media said that CM Pinarayi Vijayan pressurised him on the Kannur VC appointment.
Reacting to the judgement, Governor said: “Of course, we will make immediate arrangements. As soon as the judgment of the Supreme Court reaches us, immediately we will make the necessary arrangements."

Earlier today, the Supreme Court cancelled the reappointment of Kannur Vice-Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran. Ravindran was reappointed in November 2021 as the VC, following which two Kannur University officials first approached the High Court, which upheld the reappointment. The petitioners then moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court decision.

SC in its judgement also slammed the way the Governor, who is also chancellor of state universities came under duress from outside.

Ravindran's reappointment as VC was highly criticized as the wife of CM Vijayan's private secretary and former Rajya Sabha member K.K.Ragesh was ranked first in a teaching job at the Kannur University, despite not having the required qualifications.