KOCHI: In a setback for the Kerala governor, the high court on Monday dismissed petitions challenging a single bench decision that declared ‘illegal’ the appointment of two temporary vice-chancellors for Kerala University of Digital Sciences Innovation and Technology and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU), made without the recommendation of the state govt.A division bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and P V Balakrishnan rejected the appeals filed by the governor-cum-chancellor and temporary VCs of the digital university and KTU, Ciza Thomas and K Sivaprasad, respectively.Taking note of the prolonged administrative stalemate in both universities and its adverse impact on their functioning and students, the court urged the chancellor and the state government to act proactively and ensure regular appointments to the posts without further delay.The appeals primarily challenged the single bench’s finding that appointments made without the government’s recommendation are bad in law, citing that the university acts mandate such recommendation and limit the tenure of temporary VCs to six months. They also questioned the legality of these provisions, contending that they are inconsistent with the UGC Regulations. The bench, however, rejected this contention, holding that the UGC Regulations, 2010 and 2018, are silent on the appointment of temporary VCs.