Latest news with #KeralaTechnologicalUniversity
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
State's higher education sector going through the worst of times: Satheesan
The State's higher education sector is going through the worst of times in history with the Universities being used to serve the petty political and personal vendetta games played by the government and the Raj Bhavan, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has said. Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Mr. Satheesan said that the conflict and confrontation between the government and Raj Bhavan, which have been going on for the past three or four years, is not something that served any public interest. With the government and Raj Bhavan continuing to taunt each other and playing political games, it was the State's academic sector and the students who were losing out. Of the 13 universities in the State, 12 have no Vice-Chancellors. All university Syndicates are in conflict with Raj Bhavan. He said the current conflict over the suspension of the Registrar of the University of Kerala and the developments that followed are all issues that could have been easily resolved. Yet, it is in the government's interest to sustain this conflict. Mr. Satheesan recollected how the government harassed and hounded Ciza Thomas, the former Vice-Chancellor of Kerala Technological University till courts ruled in her favour He said that when the universities in all other States were moving forward, the ones in Kerala were regressing, because none had time to discuss the burning issues in the academic sector. The government and Raj Bhavan should stop the ongoing conflict for the sake of the future of the State's students. There was a time when Kerala was at the top when it came to education and health. Now both sectors are in the doldrums under the current political dispensation. Health Minister Veena George spoke of the 'system's failure' and it took a Left-leaning doctor to expose all that was wrong with the 'system.' All public health initiatives which offered affordable care to people are at a standstill. The government owes over ₹1,800 crore as pending payments to public hospitals under the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhati . Arogya Keralam has been consigned to the ventilator now and the Opposition was firm in its demand for the resignation of the Health Minister, Mr. Satheesan said.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Release pension, benefits to Ciza Thomas in 2 weeks: HC to govt
Kochi: In a major setback to the state govt, Kerala high court on Friday ordered the release of all terminal benefits due to Ciza Thomas, former vice-chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (formerly Kerala Technological University), within two weeks. Allowing the petition filed by Thomas seeking the disbursement of pensionary benefits and monthly pension, a division bench of Justices A Muhamed Mustaque and Johnson John held that the govt violated her fundamental rights by denying her terminal benefits. Thomas retired from service on March 31, 2023. On the same day, a charge memo was issued to her, alleging that she had assumed charge as the vice-chancellor without the approval of the govt. However, despite these rulings, the state govt continued to withhold her death-cum-retirement gratuity and other retirement benefits, prompting her to approach the court once again. The only justification provided by the govt for withholding her pensionary benefits was that it had filed a review petition before the apex court against the dismissal of its special leave petition challenging the quashing of proceedings against Thomas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The court observed that no disciplinary proceedings were pending against her, no adverse claims were raised, and a liability certificate was already issued. Citing Rule 3 of Part III of the Kerala Service Rules (KSR), it clarified that the govt may withhold pension only if departmental or judicial proceedings are pending. In the absence of such proceedings, the withholding of pensionary benefits was held to be unlawful. The court further criticised the govt's actions, stating that they amounted to a flagrant violation of her fundamental rights and constituted harassment for having accepted the office of the vice-chancellor at the instance of the former chancellor and governor. She was serving as senior joint director at the technical education department earlier. The high court subsequently quashed the charge memo proceedings, and this decision was later upheld by the Supreme Court. It remarked that such gross injustice to a distinguished govt servant could not be overlooked. It reaffirmed that the right to pension is a property right under the Constitution and cannot be denied except through a procedure established by law. Regarding the issue of interest, the court held that the petitioner can approach the tribunal, which is competent to decide the matter. Thomas is currently serving as the temporary vice-chancellor of the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (Digital University Kerala), in accordance with the chancellor's directive.
