Kerala High Court on Friday observed that the appointment of the vice-chancellor of a state university for technical studies was prima facie faulty, in a setback for the governor who had made the selection without consulting the government.

The single bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran made the oral observation while hearing the government’s plea against the appointment of Ciza Thomas as VC-in-charge of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University without considering any other names.

The judge observed that the government’s plea had basis and posted the matter for November 18 since the governor’s counsel sought more time to file a response to a notice sent earlier.

The court had on November 8 suo motu impleaded the University Grants Commission since the governor’s counsel, K. Raju Babu, had argued that UGC regulations would also come into play in the appointment of Thomas.

The Kerala government had contended that her appointment could only be made under the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University Act.

The court had on Tuesday refused to stay Thomas’s appointment after considering the government plea.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had selected Thomas after the post fell vacant when the Supreme Court annulled the appointment of M.S. Rajasree as the VC of the university.

The top court was hearing the plea of an academic who had said Rajasree’s appointment was not in line with UGC norms.