Kerala University crisis deepens as VC & syndicate won't back down
Adding a new chapter to the tussle on Tuesday, Kunnummal refused to approve a file sent by 'suspended' registrar K S Anil Kumar. The file requested Rs 10 lakh to support university union activities.
It is learnt that the VC told university officials to resend the file through the registrar-in-charge Mini Kappen. However, CPM members are said to have used the 'suspended' registrar to build another case against the VC.
The delay in releasing funds to the university union could give the SFI a chance to restart its strike. SFI had ended the strike suddenly after the govt tried to pacify both Kunnummal and governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
Kunnummal again warned university staff not to take orders from the 'suspended' registrar, who continues to be present in his office every day despite being suspended. Left members in the syndicate and the state govt argue that Kumar's suspension ended after a syndicate meeting, held without the VC, revoked it.
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The VC also rejected the demand to convene a syndicate meeting. University Statute 6 (1) states that a syndicate meeting should be convened at least once in two months or at the discretion of the VC. Since there is no provision for a special syndicate meeting in university rules, the VC has taken the stand that it would be sufficient to convene the next syndicate meeting by Sept 6. The last meeting was held on July 6.
Despite Kunnummal's repeated instructions, university officers have not made arrangements for the acting registrar to access the file link. The ongoing administrative crisis at Kerala University continues as both sides refuse to back down and tensions remain high on campus.
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