Kochi: Departed Congress leader Sheila Dixit may have been in the Raj Bhavan only for a brief period, but she created history becoming the first Governor to sack a Vice-Chancellor in Kerala.

Refusing to bow to any pressure, she stood her ground to kick out AV George, head of Mahatma Gandhi University, for allegedly misrepresenting credentials in his bio-data.

A nominee of the Congress-backed late Kerala Congress chief KM Mani, George played all the tricks to hang on to the post with the blessings of Mani who was an indispensable leader in the front.

Miffed by losing power in Delhi Assembly and Parliament elections in 2014, Sheila was in an aggressive mood and did not succumb to any pressure.

It was time when Sheila was targeted by rival parties accusing her of alleged involvement in the Commonwealth Games scam.

She even refused to give audience to George who wanted to make a point with her. George went to the Governor’s official residence with a letter of resignation which Raj Bhavan officials refused to accept. Later, he was handed the dismissal order.

A geologist, George had allegedly claimed that he had worked as head of the department at a Central University while he had actually worked on deputation at Central University Kasargod.

The case had first come before the then Governor Nikhil Kumar seeking his removal for alleged misrepresentation. Nikhil had issued a show-cause notice to George.

When contacted, a former staff of the MGU told The Covai Post that the decision to remove George was taken by the Governor perusing the documents before her.

Asked about the efficiency, he said on condition of anonymity that each Vice-Chancellor had his or her own style of functioning. Also, George was there for only about a year and had to leave before he could do anything for the university, he added.