Give list of professors for interim VC: Guv

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan is learnt to have refused to subscribe to the state government's recommendation for an extended term for M G University incumbent vice-chancellor Sabu Thomas.
The higher education department had recommended another term for Thomas since he hasn't attained the age limit of 65 years prescribed in the MG University Act for the appointment of vice-chancellor.
The governor who did not respond directly to the government demand, however, expressed his reservation towards the proposal by asking the government to suggest a panel of senior professors the government prefers to guard the fort till a full-time VC is appointed. The four-year term of Thomas at MG University is set to expire on May 27.
It is assumed that the governor is wary about obliging the government suggestion for a second term for Thomas since he had to openly admit that he reappointed Kannur University vice-chancellor Gopinath Ravindan under pressure from the government. Also, a petition challenging his reappointment is currently pending in the Supreme Court.
Moreover, after the setback from Kerala High Court over his bid to take action against vice-chancellors, whose selection processes were not in sync with UGC regulations, the governor has almost buried the hatchet and agreed to consider only government nominees to be appointed as interim VCs.
The governor's office has asked the higher education department to give a panel of three senior professors eligible to function as interim VC at MG University. At Cusat and KTU too, the governor has approved the names suggested by the government as interim VCs.
Meanwhile, nine universities will be headless by the end of May, since the governor has refused to sign the Universities Amendment Bill passed by the assembly. The government is also not interested in initiating procedures for the election of full-time VCs. Instead, the government prefers interim VCs who are politically loyal to the government.