The Higher Education department has issued orders promoting 33 professors as Principals in government arts and science colleges in the State.

Higher Education Minister R. Bindu announced that the promotions were granted to professors who were included in the select list prepared by the selection committee and who continue to be in service. The appointments have been made to various colleges under the Department of Collegiate Education.

The appointments are based on directions issued by the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) in connection with disputes over Principal appointments in government colleges. In compliance with the tribunal’s orders, the government had constituted a selection committee to prepare a merit list for filling the posts.

The selection committee examined the candidates who met the eligibility criteria under the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations and prepared a merit list of 51 candidates, along with a waiting list of 38 candidates from a pool of 89 eligible applicants. The Departmental Promotion Committee subsequently approved the merit list and finalised the select list.

Based on the recommendation submitted by the Director of Collegiate Education, the government has granted promotions to 33 professors from the approved select list who are currently in service.

The promotions addresses a long-standing issue of vacant Principals’ posts in government arts and science colleges, which had remained unresolved for several years due to multiple legal challenges and procedural disputes during the selection process. The KAT had also flagged aspects of the selection procedure at different stages.

In addition to the 33 confirmed promotions, eight teachers who had been serving as Principals on a provisional basis will be allowed to continue in their respective institutions, pending the final outcome of the cases before the tribunal.