KU VC faces challenge from registrar

Time of India

10-07-2025

T'puram: In an unprecedented development, Kerala University (KU) vice-chancellor (VC) Mohanan Kunnummal lost much of his authority on Thursday when pro-Left union members in the university administrationbrought registrar K S Anil Kumar into his office and gave him access to e-files, defying the VC's orders.
On Wednesday, Kunnummal rejected Kumar's leave application, saying a suspended officer cannot take leave. He also told the security officer not to let Kumar enter his chamber, arguing that the syndicate members' claim about cancelling Kumar's suspension was not valid.
KU's Left union leaders refused to give the file transfer ID to planning director Mini Kappen, whom the VC had chosen to take charge as registrar. Instead, they arranged file access and authority for Kumar.
The university security officer, a police officer on deputation, reported to Kunnummal that Kumar ignored his instructions, even after they were clearly communicated. Kunnummal was not present at KU headquarters on Thursday as he was in Kozhikode in connection with the inauguration of a family health building at Kozhikode Medical College.
Sources said he had instructed the joint registrars not to send him files that come through Kumar and asked them to send urgent files directly.
However, it's unclear if they will follow his instructions.
Kunnummal, who is the VC of Kerala University of Health Sciences, is holding the additional charge at Kerala University. He had suspended Kumar from service for allegedly insulting governor Rajendra V Arlekar by cancelling permission he had granted for a private function at University Senate Hall. Arlekar is also the chancellor of the university. Later, the syndicate claimed it had revoked Kumar's suspension.
However, interim VC Ciza Thomas had already dissolved the syndicate meeting held last Sunday. Thomas had called the meeting, at the request of 16 members, to finalize a statement of facts for submission to the High Court the next day.
On Thursday, SFI and AISF activists protested inside the university campus while DYFI workers held a demonstration outside, shouting slogans against Arlekar and Kunnummal.
Guv praises health dept, general edu min stays away from event
Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who attended a public function in the state capital amid the continuing protest by the youth outfits of the Left front, refused to comment on the agitation against the universities or the Raj Bhavan.
Meanwhile, general education minister V Sivankutty, who was the chief guest, stayed away from it citing the reason that the cabinet meeting was going on.
Arlekar attended the function to inaugurate Niramaya Keralam, a project to initiate first-aid education in the school curriculum framework.
When asked for reactions about the ongoing protests, Arlekar said, "Many things were happening at the event." The governor praised the health department for its efforts to include first-aid lessons in the school curriculum.
He also commended Kerala as a model for many states.
Later in the afternoon, the SFI took out a protest to the Raj Bhavan and clashed with police for hours. Police cordoned off the area and installed three levels of barricades. Despite repeated usage of water cannons, the SFI workers did not disperse. They later climbed atop the barricades and challenged police to launch a direct clash with them. But police raised the alarm for firing the teargas shells. Later, the leaders addressed the SFI workers assembled in front of the barricade.
After this, they dispersed without creating much trouble.