The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will set up a search committee to shortlist candidates for the appointment of vice chancellors at two state universities – the Kerala University of Digital Science and the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University – amid an ongoing standoff between the Kerala government and Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Live Law reported.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan asked the Attorney General of India R Venkataramani and lawyer Jaideep Gupta, appearing for the state, to propose four names for inclusion in the five-member committee.

One member will be nominated by the University Grants Commission.

The case stems from a notification issued by former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on November 27, appointing Ciza Thomas and K Sivaprasad as interim vice-chancellors of the digital university and the technological university.

On May 19, a single bench of the Kerala High Court struck down both appointments but allowed the incumbents to continue until May 27 to avoid disruption.

A division bench of the High Court later upheld the ruling, saying the governor could appoint temporary vice-chancellors for only up to six months and only on the basis of recommendations from the state government.

The court also directed the government to propose names of qualified candidates, as prescribed by the University Grants Commission, for temporary appointments until permanent vice-chancellors were selected.

The government then submitted a panel of three nominees for each post.

However, instead of appointing from the panel, the governor approached the Supreme Court.

On July 31, the Supreme Court held that the Kerala governor can appoint temporary vice-chancellors to both universities until permanent appointments are made. The court also urged the chancellor and the government to resolve the issue amicably to ensure the appointments of regular vice-chancellors.

The governor is the ex-officio chancellor chancellor of all state universities in Kerala.

On August 1, Arlekar cited the Supreme Court order and appointed Thomas and Sivaprasad as interim vice-chancellors again.

On Tuesday, the Kerala government moved the Supreme Court challenging these reappointments, arguing that the governor made the decision without consulting the government.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the state cited section 13(7) of the Technological University Act, which says the chancellor may appoint a temporary vice-chancellor only as “recommended by the government”, Live Law reported.

Seeking to break the deadlock, Pardiwala suggested a “way out” by forming a search committee.