Govt-Governor tussle over Bharat Mata portrait escalates, Kerala University registrar suspended for cancelling event
K S Anil Kumar, who has the backing of CPI(M)-led state government, was suspended by Vice Chancellor Mohan Kunnummal, who was given charge of the university last October by former state Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.
The suspension has drawn sharp criticism from Kerala's Higher Education Minister R Bindu.
'The V-C overstepped the boundary of his power. He is a person who has proved his loyalty towards the RSS. He is only an in-charge V-C. Certain chancellors (Governor) want to saffronise the state's higher education sector… It is unfortunate that the Chancellor wanted to deliberately make issues in the university,' Bindu told the media.
After his suspension, the registrar said, 'I was appointed by the (university) syndicate, so the suspension was illegal.'
The Education Minister said that the Vice Chancellor can only place the matter before the syndicate. 'Other than that, there is no provision in the existing law for the Vice Chancellor to take direct action against the registrar,' she said.
On June 25, the Sree Padmanabha Seva Samithi had held a function with Arlekar in the university. The registrar had ordered the cancellation of the programme, objecting to the displaying of the Bharat Mata portrait at the university hall. However, Arlekar turned up for the event and lit a lamp in front of the portrait despite protests from Left and Congress workers.
Following this, Kunnummal had given a report to Raj Bhavan that the cancellation of the event amounted to insulting the Governor and that the registrar acted under pressure from external forces.
This comes amid an ongoing tussle between the state government and the Governor over the presence of Bharat Mata portraits at official events. Minister and CPI(M) leaders have said the portrait is associated with the RSS and should not be used during official events. Last month, Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty had walked out of a function at Raj Bhavan over the presence of the portrait.– PTI inputs
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