KTU Vice-Chancellor Moves Kerala High Court Seeking Direction To Resolve Administrative Stalemate

Dr. Sivaprasad, Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, has approached the Kerala High Court seeking interference by the Court to resolve the administrative stalemate in the University.

As per the plea, a few members of the Syndicate (respondent 2 to 4) are abstaining from attending the Syndicate meeting, due to political reasons. These respondents, namely, the Secretary to Government, Department of Finance, Secretary to Government, Department of Higher Education, Director of Technical Education were not attending the meetings, leading to dispersal of the same due to want of quorum. Thus, the budget meeting has been in abeyance.

According to the petition, wages have not been paid to the employees of the University for the past one month and pension has not been disbursed to the pensioners for the last two months. It is stated that the same was not due to any financial crisis but that the budget of the University was not passed due to the non-cooperation of the government.

It is also stated in the plea that the internet connection in the University would soon be interrupted due to non-payment of periodic bills.

Thus, the petitioner has prayed that a direction may be issued to the respondents 2 to 4 to attend the 66th Syndicate meeting of the University, scheduled to be held on Wednesday (August 13). The writ also prays for a declaration that repeated dispersal of the Syndicate meetings by the aforesaid respondent is intentional and arbitrary, leading to the present administrative stalemate.

When the matter came up for consideration before Justice N. Nagaresh on Monday (August 11), the judge recused.

The case will now be posted before a different bench tomorrow.

Background

On May 19, a Single Bench of the High Court had held that the appointment of Dr. K. Sivaprasad by the former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to the post of temporary Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University was "not sustainable in law”. This was challenged before the Division Bench, which upheld the Single Bench's decision.

Subsequently, a Special Leave Petition was filed before the Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the Division Bench. The Apex Court permitted the Chancellor of the University to appoint any person, including the person who was appointed earlier, as the Vice-Chancellor for a period of six (06) months. Thus, the Chancellor appointed Dr. Sivaprasad as the Vice-Chancellor for 6 months vide order dated 01.08.2025.

The petition is moved by Advocates Nisha George, A.L. Navaneeth Krishnan, Kavya Varma M.M. Senior Counsel George Poonthottam is appearing for the petitioner.

Case No: WP(C) 29777/2025

Case Title: Dr. Sivaprasad v. State of Kerala and Ors.