KU stir: HC issues notice to govt, chancellor
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Justice N Nagaresh issued the directive while considering a petition filed by P S Gopakumar of Poruvazhy in Kollam, a KU syndicate member. HC also issued notice to the vice-chancellor, registrar and others, but dispensed with the notice to CPM state secretary M V Govindan, for the time being. The petition was adjourned to Aug 6.
In his petition, Gopakumar alleged that the protests are linked to the suspension of the university registrar and claimed they are politically motivated. He further alleged that certain syndicate members affiliated with the ruling party, CPM, have obstructed the vice-chancellor from discharging her duties. He also stated that university staff are living under constant threat and that those who attempt to act lawfully are being intimidated and physically attacked.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Min defends show-cause notice to doc
T'puram: Health minister Veena George said on Friday that a probe team investigating the alleged shortcomings in the urology department of Thiruvananthapuram Govt Medical College Hospital reported that a part of costly equipment in the department was missing. The probe team was set up following urology head Dr Haris Chirackal 's revelation about the lack of medical equipment and emergency facilities at the MCH. Veena stated that a departmental inquiry would be conducted as the missing part of the medical equipment, brought using an MP's fund, might have been stolen. If necessary, a police complaint would be registered after the departmental inquiry. The public revelation by Dr Haris, known for his integrity and commitment to patients, has put the health department and the govt in a tight spot. Ever since Dr Haris tried to expose the poor facilities and their grave impact on patients, the govt's response to Haris remained mercurial. Veena mentioned that the show-cause notice issued to Dr Haris was part of the routine procedure. The notice was served based on the probe team's findings that the senior doctor's open criticism of the department and the system in place amounted to indiscipline and a violation of the code of conduct for govt employees. The health department's additional chief secretary issued the notice asking him to show reasons why action should not be taken against him for criticising the govt in violation of the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules , 1960, causing disgrace to the govt. Meanwhile, Dr Haris told reporters that he would submit the reply to the show-cause notice next week. On the allegation about missing equipment, Dr Haris said nobody should play with the lives of poor patients. He mentioned that the doctors who were in the probe team were known to him for years and they would not put him in a bad light. Will oppose move against doc: Opposition leader Meanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan said the UDF would fight the move to initiate action against Dr Haris. "The opposition will strongly react against the unfortunate situation where a doctor is being persecuted for speaking the truth. A doctor who revealed the happenings in the health sector should not be made a scapegoat. Instead of using his revelations positively, there is an attempt to hunt him down. The govt is taking steps to ensure no other doctor speaks out. The govt has twisted the situation to the extent of accusing the doctor of theft," Satheesan said. "In the past two years, the govt owes Rs 1,100cr to the medical services corporation. The payments from previous years are also pending. As a result, no major company is supplying medicines," he said. On the controversy in Kerala University, Satheesan said, "The govt should resolve the issue between the chief minister and the governor. Two of the participants in the RSS's Gyan Sabha were appointed by the Pinarayi govt." On the construction of houses for landslide survivors in Wayanad, Satheesan said Congress and the League will build a hundred houses each. "Why hasn't the govt utilised the Rs 742cr? They are not even paying rent. No assistance, including medical aid, is being provided. Not a single house has been built. I handed over the keys to 14 houses built by a private organization," he said.
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Leaders commemorate VS, say he remoulded self with changing times
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala's socio-political and religious leadership paid homage to former chief minister and veteran Communist V S Achuthanandan on Friday. Inaugurating the programme organised by CPM at Nishagandhi auditorium, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan dismissed the narrative presented now by different corners that it was in his latter years that V S Achuthanandan took a pro-environmental position. 'The protest organised by the Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union against the filling of barren paddy land under VS was an example of how seriously he understood the protection of environment. It was the exemplary organisational work he took up that had shaped the VS that we knew later. His life is interlinked with the Punnapra-Vayalar protest against the then monarchy's attempt to create Travancore an independent nation. He was forced to live underground and was beaten up in the police lock-up. However, VS emerged more powerful,' he said. Remembering the late leader, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said that he was astonished by the ability of VS in his later years to study new issues and understand the changes that happened. 'VS remoulded himself with the changing time. VS took on environmental issues in his later years. In his period as CM, I had opposed and criticised him from the opposition benches. However, whenever we brought to his notice the land grabbing issue, he took prompt action. He always had the mind of 'Opposition' even when he took charge of the CM,' he added. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said that once in a one-to-one discussion VS raised apprehension about the moral degradation happening in Communist parties. 'When I said that the division could have been averted in the unified Communist party, VS altogether dismissed it and said he did not hold that view,' he said. IUML general secretary P K Kunhalikutty described VS as a leader who had surrendered his life for the uplift of the poor and to fight against injustice. Former union minister V Muralidharan said VS will be best remembered for his decisions and positions taken as a chief minister.
Hans India
12 hours ago
- Hans India
CPM demands withdrawal of Rs 12,771 cr power tariff burden
Vijayawada: CPM state committee strongly condemned the proposed additional burden of Rs 12,771 crore in electricity charges under the guise of 'True-Up' adjustments. The party is demanding the immediate withdrawal of this proposal and has called on the public to make the 'Praja Vedika' protests on August 5 a success. In a statement here on Friday, CPM state secretary V Srinivasa Rao criticised the move, noting that while the government claims it is not increasing electricity tariffs, the distribution companies have submitted proposals to the Electricity Regulatory Commission to levy a True-Up charge of Rs 12,771 crore for the period between 2019-20 and 2023-24. Srinivasa Rao said that this could not have happened without the state government's knowledge and urged the government to intervene immediately to halt the proposed hike. He pointed out that over the past 36 months consumers have already paid Rs 3,000 crore in True-Up charges for the 2014-19 period. After the new coalition government came to power, an additional burden of Rs 15,485 crore was imposed in adjustment charges for 2022-23 and 2023-24. Furthermore, consumers have been charged an extra 40 paise per unit every month for the current financial year (2024-25), collecting another Rs 2,787 crore. He also mentioned that smart meters would lead to further financial burdens. Srinivasa Rao accused the coalition government of breaking its promise to reduce electricity charges, a pledge made during the election. He pointed out that despite recent public announcements about a reduction of Rs 449 crore through a 'True-Down' adjustment, the distribution companies have simultaneously proposed a massive increase. The Electricity Regulatory Commission issued a notification on July 30 seeking public feedback on the proposal. The CPM leader declared that the practice of collecting True-Up charges years after the initial tariffs were set is illegal. He alleged that the government and distribution companies are using this system to increase costs through illegal agreements and corruption with corporate companies, ultimately passing the burden onto consumers. The party has called on the public to participate in the protests organised by Praja Vedika on August 5 to oppose the electricity tariff hikes, demand the abolition of True-Up and fuel adjustment charges, and reject the implementation of smart meters.
