Justice Devan Ramachandran of Kerala High Court said that Governor Arif Mohammed couldn't have asked the Vice-chancellors of the nine universities in his capacity as chancellor of those universities and stayed the operation of the order passed by him.

This observation of the Kerala High Court has come on a petition filed by 8 VCs who had challenged the instructions issued to them by Governor on 23rd October 2022 by 11:30 AM that day. At the same time, the notices issued to the VCs narrated the show cause as to why their appointment shall not be declared void abinitio and illegal especially after they cease to be VCs.

Dictating the order, the bench said "It does not require much judgments to say no one can be asked to tender resignation. Interestingly, Jaju Babu, learned senior counsel, says the communication was and advise to save the VCs from ignominy. he Court cannot accept such an advice and for that reason the communication has to fail".

The Court also said that some of the VCs are saying that the Supreme Court judgment does not apply to them and that the Chancellor did not jurisdiction. The court noted the argument of Sr. Advocate Jaju Babu that the communication dated 23 October need only be seen as "advise or a pious hope but this did not win the mood of the court and the court sid that since the show-cause notices have been issued, therefore, the impugned communication has lost its relevance and the Vice-Chancelloers shall continue to be in office.

The Governor's communication dated 23rd Ocotber directed the following Vice Chancellors to resign:-

(1) Dr VP Mahadevan Pillai, VC of University of Kerala,

(2) Dr.Sabu Thomas, VC of Mahatma Gandhi University,

(3) Dr. KN Madhusoodhanan, VC of Cochin University of Science and Technology,

(4) Dr K Riji John, VC of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies,

(5) Dr.Gopinath Ravindran, VC of Kannur University,

(6) Dr MS Rajashree, VC of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University,

(7) Dr.MV Narayanan, VC of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,

(8) DR MK Jayaraj, VC of Calicut University

(9) Dr V Anil Kumar Thuncahthezhuthachan Malayalam University.