High Court scraps appointments made by court-ousted VC

The Kerala High Court has annulled the appointment of two assistant professors at Kannur University, following irregularities discovered in the selection process. The decision, made on January 30, 2025, casts doubt on the integrity of the process under the leadership of former Vice-Chancellor Prof Gopinath Ravindran, who was dismissed by the Supreme Court on his final day in office.
Justice N. Nagaresh, presiding over the case, ruled that the appointments of Dr. Sudeep T.P. and Balakrishnan Padmavathi were invalid due to changes made to the selection committee mid-interview. The interviews for the assistant professor positions in the Department of Geography were conducted on November 29 and 30, 2023. The court found that the composition of the committee was altered midway, a critical deviation that violated established selection procedures.
 The decision has sparked controversy, raising questions about the transparency of university administration and the fairness of academic recruitment processes. In his ruling, Justice Nagaresh emphasized that the selection committee's integrity must be maintained throughout the entire process to ensure fairness. He also highlighted that changing the committee composition mid-interview undermines the credibility of the entire selection process.
 The two appointees, who were informed of their appointments after the interviews, now face an uncertain future. The court’s ruling means that both Dr. Sudeep T.P. and Padmavathi’s appointments have been canceled, and the process will be re-evaluated to ensure adherence to proper procedures. While the court has yet to comment on any potential reappointment, it has directed the university to revisit its hiring practices and ensure stricter compliance with selection regulations in the future.
 This ruling adds to the growing scrutiny surrounding Kannur University’s administration. Prof. Gopinath Ravindran, who had been in charge at the time of the appointment, is no stranger to controversy. His tenure was marred by disputes over his management and eventual removal from office by the Supreme Court. In addition to this particular case, there have been increasing concerns regarding the university’s adherence to established academic protocols, especially in light of previous allegations regarding favoritism and bias in recruitment processes. Open URL