Dr. Mohan Kunnummal ( Photo from Facebook/Mohanan Kunnummal )
Thiruvannthapuram: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has approved the reappointment of Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal as Vice Chancellor of the Health University, despite ongoing disagreements with the government. This unexpected move by the governor extends Dr. Kunnummal’s term as VC, who was set to complete his term on Sunday.
Dr. Kunnummal will now serve a five-year term, having effectively led the Health University since October 2019 and held a two-year position at Kerala University, which has been noted as beneficial for his reappointment. The governor’s decision appears to follow legal advice from the Advocate General, ensuring that there are no errors in the reappointment process.
Before this, Dr. Gopinath Ravindran, who was favored at Kannur University, was reappointed following a strategic move by the state government, suggesting a similar approach was taken in this case.
Additionally, Governor Khan has ordered that Dr. Kunnummal continue his duties as Vice Chancellor of Kerala University. He assumed this role on October 24, 2022. Meanwhile, the governor has revoked a previous notification to establish a search committee to find a new VC for the Health University, which had been halted by the High Court due to a petition filed by the government.
Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal becomes the second VC to receive reappointment in the state, following Dr. Gopinath Ravindran, whose appointment was validated by the High Court but later nullified by the Supreme Court due to government intervention.
