Kerala High Court Stays Two Student Nominations Made By Chancellor To Kerala University Senate

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed two student nominations made by the Chancellor to the Senate of the Kerala University. 

Justice T.R. Ravi issued the interim order today. 

The petitioners in this case, who had performed well in Fine Arts and Sports respectively, averred that as per Chapter IV Section 17 of the Kerala University Act, 1974, the Chancellor ought to nominate four students having outstanding abilities (one each in Humanities, Science, Sports and Fine Arts) to the Senate of the University. 

In accordance with the same, the petitioners submitted that the University had obtained lists of such outstanding students in each category, in which the petitioners had found themselves included in the lists pertaining to Fine Arts and Sports, respectively. In the case of the 2nd petitioner, it was averred that although the University had initially only shortlisted the Gold Medal winners, in which the former did not find a spot, it subsequently issued a revised Memo to the Silver and Bronze Medal winners, since none of the Gold Medallists had expressed their willingness to serve the Senate. 

The petitioners submitted that both of them had returned duly filled Proformas expressing their willingness to serve the Senate. It was added that the 1st and 2nd petitioners were the lone studentship nominees in the categories of Fine Arts and Sports respectively, and that the lists of valid studentship nominations received by the University were submitted to the Chancellor. 

The petitioners were however aggrieved that the 4th and 5th respondents herein, who were 'never in the zone of consideration at any level' were found to have been nominated to the Senate of the University as Students having outstanding ability in Fine Arts and Sports, respectively.

The petitioners alleged that the 4th and 5th respondents did not have any valid credentials for being nominated to the said posts.

It is under such circumstances that the present plea has been moved seeking the Court to quash the nominations of the 4th and 5th respondents and to direct the Chancellor to nominate the petitioners instead.  

The matter has been posted for further consideration on December 18, 2023. 

The plea has been moved through Advocates Asif M.A. and Anwin John Antony

Case Title: Nanda Kishore & Anr. v. Chancellor, University of Kerala & Ors. 

Case Number: W.P. (C) 41766 of 2023