Vijayan govt sacks Governor Arif Khan as Chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam deemed varsity

As government vs Governor row escalates, Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government on Thursday issued an ordinance to remove Governor as Chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam deemed university.

According to amended rules of deemed university, Chancellor's position will now be filled by an "eminent person in field of Art and Culture appointed by sponsoring body."

Presently, Governor Arif Mohamm Khan is Chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam deemed university, according to varsity's website.

order also stated, " Governance System & Management Structure of Kerala Kalamandalam (Deemed to be University for Art & Culture) shall be in accordance with Government of Kerala. Governance System and Management Structure of Deemed-to-be University are as per provisions contained in se rules and ordered issued and to be issued hereinafter by Government of Kerala as and when occasion arises."

This development comes amid LDF government's ongoing tussle with Governor Arif Khan over functioning of universities, including appointment of vice Chancellors.

Raj Bhavan says not informed about ordinance

According to sources in Raj Bhavan,  Kerala government did not inform Governor that he has been removed.

Even though statutes of deemed-to-be-university give power to executive to make amendments, re should have been "decency for government to inform same to governor," sources ded.

Centre using Governors to encroach on state govts' powers where horse-tring not possible: CM

On Tuesday, CM Pinarayi Vijayan accused Union government of using Governers in non-BJP ruled states to encroach into power of governments and legislatures when horse tring is not possible.

"In many states, horse-tring of elected representatives is going on. We may have to replace word 'horse' with something else as it's an old term and prices have now really gone up," Vijayan h claimed.

"It is not price of a horse now, we all know that. Where such horse-tring is not possible, Governors are used to encroach upon powers of state governments and legislatures," he ded.

Moreover, he claimed that attempts were being me to "financially choke" such states. "Looking at all this we can see that re is an attack against democratic system in our country," he contended.