The Congress-led UDF government in Keralam has submitted a written statement to the Supreme Court, proposing to amend its university laws and rules to align with University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. The decision, taken as part of a patch up with Governor before the SC over appointment of VCs to universities, has triggered a fierce political row in the state between the ruling UDF and the opposition LDF. Significantly, this decision prominently figures in the ‘settlement format’ submitted before the apex court. Leader of Opposition in the state and former Chief Minister in LDF regime Pinarayi Vijayan reacted strongly on it posting on ‘X’ that with this decision UDF government showed that it has "surrendered to the RSS agenda". Vijayan said "for a decade, LDF defended Keralam’s federal rights and university autonomy, resisting attempts to use Governors and UGC regulations to undermine state law. The UDF has now abandoned that position, opening our universities to Governor control and the Sangh Parivar’s project of centralization and saffronisation." “A dangerous capitulation that strikes at federalism, university autonomy, and Keralam’s constitutional, secular and democratic foundations.”, he added. "The Government proposes necessary amendments in the University Act to make the provisions in tune with the UGC regulations," stated the submission. The statement was part of a ‘settlement format’ brokered between the state government and the Governor to resolve a long-standing dispute over who holds the final authority in appointing Vice-Chancellors (VCs) to state-run universities, and whether the Governor can act independently in his capacity as Chancellor. The development effectively resolves a bitter, year-long stalemate inherited from the predecessor LDF government concerning two key academic appointments. Under the terms of a settlement reached during a recent Lok Adalat held at the Supreme Court: However, in a significant concession to secure this truce, the state government agreed to rewrite its university laws to conform to central UGC standards. By doing so, the state has legally conceded that central UGC guidelines override conflicting state enactments. This is what has triggered a political storm in the state As the ex-officio Chancellor of state universities, the Governor maintained that he functions independently of the state Council of Ministers and does not require their "aid and advice" when appointing VCs. Kerala government argued that an elected state administration must have the primary say or, at the very least, a consensus-driven role in picking university heads. Previously, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF administration had routinely attempted to bypass strict UGC norms by utilizing temporary appointment clauses embedded in state laws—a practice the Governor challenged in SC as illegal. Harish V Nair is Senior Editor (Legal) with Times Now TV. In his journalism career spanning 20 years, he has specialised in coverage of Supreme Court ... View More