Supreme Court Appoints Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia to Resolve Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Appointment Deadlock

The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday, August 18, 2025, intervened to address a continuing stalemate between the Kerala Government and the Kerala Governor over the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in State Universities, and appointed Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as the Chairperson of the Search-cum-Selection Committee tasked with shortlisting candidates for regular Vice-Chancellor positions at APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and the University of Digital Sciences Innovation and Technology (UDSIT).

The Court, while passing the order, observed that the impasse created between the State Government and the Governor required urgent resolution to ensure smooth functioning of the universities. It stated, “We firmly believe that this impasse, which has been created, should be taken care of at the earliest. In such circumstances, we appointed Hon’ble Sudhanshu Dhulia, former judge of this Court, as Chairperson of the Search-cum-Selection Committee for both universities. The learned Chairperson is authorised to constitute either a separate or the same committee for the two universities. The Chairperson shall preside over the committee, which shall consist of five members—two members from the list provided by the Chancellor and the State. Ultimately, the discretion regarding the committee’s composition is left to the Chairperson.”

This development comes in the backdrop of a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Kerala Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor of KTU, challenging a Kerala High Court judgment which had quashed the Governor’s earlier appointment of temporary Vice-Chancellors without the State Government’s recommendation.

Previously, a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan had directed the Attorney General for India, R Venkataramani, and Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, representing the State, to submit four names for inclusion in the five-member committee. The fifth member was to be nominated by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The matter has its roots in a series of contested appointments. In November 2024, the Governor had appointed Dr. K. Sivaprasad and Dr. Ciza Thomas as temporary Vice-Chancellors of KTU and UDSIT, respectively. These appointments were challenged before the Kerala High Court, which ruled on May 19, 2025, that the Governor could only appoint temporary Vice-Chancellors with the recommendation of the State Government, and only for a period not exceeding six months. A subsequent division bench of the High Court upheld this decision on July 14, 2025.

The High Court had relied on Section 13(7) of the Technological University Act, which provides that in the event of a Vice-Chancellor vacancy, the Chancellor may appoint the Vice-Chancellor of another university, the Pro-Vice Chancellor, or the Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department, but only on the recommendation of the Government and for a maximum aggregate period of six months.

Despite the High Court rulings, the Governor proceeded to re-appoint Dr. Ciza Thomas and Dr. K. Sivaprasad as interim VCs for the two universities, prompting the State Government to file a challenge against these re-appointments. The Supreme Court, while intervening, had earlier urged the Governor and the Government to resolve the matter amicably to ensure that regular VC appointments were finalized without further delay. The Court also clarified that until regular appointments were made, the Governor could continue with the temporary VCs.

By appointing Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as Chairperson, the Supreme Court aims to provide a neutral and authoritative mechanism to shortlist candidates for the positions of regular Vice-Chancellors at both universities. The Court’s order empowers the Chairperson to decide the composition of the Search Committee, whether one committee for both universities or separate committees, and to exercise discretion in consultation with the Chancellor and State Government nominees.

The case is officially cited as: The Chancellor, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University v. State of Kerala and Ors | SLP(C) No. 20680-20681/2025.

This ruling highlights the Supreme Court’s proactive role in ensuring that governance in public universities remains impartial, balanced, and in accordance with statutory provisions, especially when conflicts arise between the Governor as Chancellor and the State Government regarding appointments. The move is also seen as a step to prevent administrative gridlock and to safeguard the autonomy and functioning of State universities in Kerala.