Archive · 15 Dec 2025
Kerala Governor stresses institutional boundaries in democracy
The Governor of Kerala, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, recently spoke about the importance of institutions knowing and respecting their limits in a democracy.
He made these remarks during an event where he gave an award to a former Chief Justice of India, P Sathasivam.
The Governor also talked about a recent Supreme Court decision that set up a committee to help choose leaders for two universities in Kerala.
He believes that each institution should stay within its own boundaries and not take over the roles of others.
The Governor also mentioned that the power to change the Constitution should stay with the Parliament and not the courts.
He was referring to a previous Supreme Court judgment that supported the Governor's role in appointing university leaders.
The award given to Sathasivam was named after a famous judge and was meant to honor his contributions to justice and society.
Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar emphasized that institutions must know and respect their limits in a democracy.
He made these remarks during the conferring of the Justice V R Krishna Iyer Award to former Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam.
The Governor moved the Supreme Court challenging a Kerala High Court order that set aside a notification appointing a vice-chancellor.
The Supreme Court asked a committee headed by retired Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia to recommend names for the posts of the VCs in two universities.
The Governor deplored the tendency of one institution usurping the role of another and stressed that the power to amend the Constitution lies with the Parliament.
- Who
- Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and former Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam
- What
- Governor's remarks on institutional limits in democracy and award ceremony
- When
- December 14, 2024
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Why
- To discuss the role of institutions in democracy and to confer the Justice V R Krishna Iyer Award
- Governor's Name
- Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
- Award Name
- Justice V R Krishna Iyer Award
- Award Institution
- LAW Trust (Legal Assistance and Welfare Trust)
- Recipient of Award
- Justice (retd) P Sathasivam
- Supreme Court Committee
- Headed by Justice (retd) Sudhanshu Dhulia
- Issue
- Appointment of vice-chancellors to two technical universities in Kerala
- Location
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Universities Involved
- APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology
Sources
Kerala Governor says institutions must know, respect their limits in democracy
Court does not have authority to appoint Vice Chancellors; Kerala Guv criticises SC
Institutions should know, respect limits: Kerala Governor, days after Supreme Court asked panel to recommend VCs
