Governor Nikhil Kumar, who is also Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi University, will examine the records and contentions of MG university Vice-Chancellor A. V. George, the petitioner T. K. Sajiv and Higher Education Secretary K. M. Abraham prior to disposing off the petition relating to the qualifications of the Vice-Chancellor.
The Vice-Chancellor appeared before the Governor on Saturday and submitted his explanation to the Governor as per his direction. The petitioner, T. K. Sajiv, who is also Kaviyoor panchayat president and the Higher Education secretary, had also been directed to appear before him.
The Governor first held a closed door meeting with Dr. Abraham in order to get the views of the government on this issue. Dr. Abraham is understood to have reiterated the government stand intimated to the Chancellor to use his discretion in disposing off the case and take action against the Vice-Chancellor under Section seven of the University Act.
Dr. George and Mr. Sajiv appeared before the Governor along with their respective lawyers. Dr. George informed the government that he stood by the 100-page explanation he had submitted to the Chancellor. He pointed out to the legal and technical aspects with regard to his ouster, contending that he could be removed from office only on charges of misappropriation of funds and misconduct. According to government sources, the Vice-Chancellor and the petitioner presented their arguments citing several court cases during the two-hour-long meeting. Later, Dr. George told waiting media persons outside the Raj Bhavan that he was confident about continuing as Vice-Chancellor.
The Governor had issued a show cause notice to the Vice-Chancellor on December 21. The Vice-Chancellor had given his 100-page explanation to the Governor on January 6, questioning the Chancellor’s powers to remove him from office.
