The Hindu editorial on 06/09/2025 discusses the ongoing tussle in Kerala between Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and the elected State government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan over the appointment of Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs). The Governor has submitted to the Supreme Court that the Chief Minister has no role in appointing V-Cs of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University and Digital University Kerala, arguing that UGC rules mandate only eminent academicians with no institutional links to serve on selection committees. The editorial highlights that the draft 2025 UGC Regulations further seek to exclude State governments from the V-C appointment process, vesting the power solely with the Chancellor — typically the Governor. This confrontation reflects a broader pattern in opposition-ruled States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, where Governors increasingly act as political adversaries of State governments. Tracing history, the piece notes that Governors were colonial-era creations, often serving as agents of the Centre, and their discretionary powers have been gradually limited by law. The practice of Governors serving as Chancellors was retained after Independence to provide universities with independent oversight and an elder statesman-like figure, but the role itself is conferred by State legislation. Recently, some States, like Punjab and West Bengal, have legislated to replace Governors with Chief Ministers as Chancellors, signaling resistance to gubernatorial interference. The editorial concludes by stressing that universities need strong academic leadership, rooted in scholarship and managerial ability, rather than appointments shaped by political considerations — whether by the Union or State governments.
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