Dr K M Seethi, Dr V P Mahadevan Pillai on vice chancellor probable list

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The search committee for University of Kerala vice-chancellor is yet to meet. Dr K. M. Seethi, a professor at School of International Relations and Politics under MG University, and Dr V. P. Mahadevan Pillai, professor and head of the department of optoelectronics, University of Kerala, are the names doing rounds. Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam, who is also the Chancellor, had constituted a three-member committee to select a panel of candidates on Jan 24.

The members are chief secretary Paul Antony, the government nominee, State Planning Board vice-chairman V. K. Ramachandran, the University Senate representative, and R. C. Kuhad, vice-chancellor of the Central University of Haryana, the UGC nominee. The previous vice-chancellor P. K. Radhakrishnan stepped down on Feb 22, and the university remains headless since. As per UGC norms, the VC requires ten years' experience as a professor.

A top Planning Board member told DC that initially his colleague K. N. Harilal’s name was projected. “But Mr Harilal lacks the experience. Now the prominent names projected are Mr Seethi and Mr Pillai,” he said. The search panel is supposed to shortlist nominees and arrive at a consensus in three months, since the retirement of the incumbent, and submit to the governor.

A top government official confirmed that they were yet to convene a meeting of the search committee, which means there would be further delay in the appointment. “There are also efforts to give the full charge to Prof Gopinath Ravindran, vice-chancellor of Kannur University, who is now in charge. But the ball is in the court of the search committee.”