Supreme Court stand deals LDF govt and Arlekar a severe blow
Supreme Court
's warning against turning important university affairs into a power struggle between the govt and the governor is a severe blow to their pride. The apex court's call for better cooperation between the governor and the govt sends a clear message: both have ignored the needs of university students, who are the primary stakeholders in education.
The SC clarified that the chancellor can issue notifications to keep the current interim vice-chancellors (VCs) at Kerala Technological University (KTU) and Kerala University of Digital Sciences (DUK) or appoint new temporary ones. Following this, governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar is expected to reappoint Ciza Thomas and K Sivaprasad. The panel submitted by the state govt for the appointment of interim VCs at KTU and DUK has thus lost its relevance.
Meanwhile, the standoff between interim VC Mohanan Kunnummal and pro-CPM syndicate members at Kerala University continued on Wednesday. While state govt engaged a set of pro-CPM members in the syndicate and SFI activists to confront the VC, Kunnummal is engaged in a tug of war with registrar K S Anil Kumar, a CPM nominee. Despite the administrative crisis at the university, Arlekar has failed to intervene and set things right.
Sources close to the development claim that the chancellor decided not to intervene in KU crisis unless the govt once again draggs the issue of the registrar's 'suspension' to the high court. Since the university statutes could work in favour of the vice-chancellor, there is no need to reach an agreement with the govt regarding the dispute over the disciplinary action taken against the registrar. Kumar had cancelled a private programme attended by the chancellor at the university senate hall over 'displaying a religious symbol' on stage.
The VC and Raj Bhavan are not ready for a negotiation unless Kumar accepts his suspension. Since attempts to pacify the chancellor and VC failed, SFI has restarted its protest at the university gates.
Meanwhile, the VC summoned officers from the administrative section and ensured that the registrar-in-charge, Mini Kappen was given e-file access. Following his directive, Kumar's file access was withheld. Officials had earlier refused to obey his instructions in this regard.
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