The Supreme Court Monday appointed its former judge Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as the head of a committee which will shortlist names for appointment as vice-chancellor of two Kerala universities — APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and University of Digital Sciences Innovation and Technology.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan said, authorised Justice Dhulia to constitute a separate or same committee for the two universities. The committee will have five members, including two members each from the list provided by the Chancellor and the state.

“Ultimately, we leave it to the discretion of the chairperson,” the SC said. It was hearing an appeal filed by the Kerala Governor.