New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday (December 11) asked a committee headed by Justice (retired) Sudhanshu Dhulia to suggest a list of names for the post of regular vice chancellors in two government universities in Kerala – the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, and the University of Digital Sciences Innovation and Technology, reported LiveLaw.

A prolonged deadlock between the Kerala government the state’s governor had earlier led to the apex court constituting the search committee headed by Justice Dhulia to shortlist names for VC appointments.

On Friday, a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan said that the committee should recommend the list of names after examining the correspondence between the chief minister and the chancellor (the governor), and the names will have to be submitted in a sealed cover in the order of preference by December 17 as the court will take up the matter again on December 18.

During the hearing, when attorney general for India R. Venkataramani said that he wanted to hand over to the bench a confidential letter written by the governor to the CM as a reply to the letter sent by the latter regarding one of the recommendations, the bench declined seeing the later, reported Livelaw.

After noting that the two authorities have not been able to form a consensus and there is no possibility of it in the future as well, the top court ordered that the Justice Dhulia Committee will now recommend one name each.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.