Latest news with #KeralaUniversity
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala University crisis deepens as VC & syndicate won't back down
T'puram: Higher education minister R Bindu's attempts to solve the administrative crisis at Kerala University seem to have failed as both vice-chancellor (VC) Mohanan Kunnummal and CPM members in the syndicate continue their fight for control. 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo 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.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
KU stir: HC issues notice to govt, chancellor
Kochi: High court has issued notice to the state govt and Kerala University chancellor in a petition seeking police protection for the university office and staff in connection with the protests related to the Bharat Mata row. 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.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
VC: Give only subsistence allowance to registrar
1 2 3 4 T'puram: Kerala University vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal has directed the university finance officer not to process the salary of the suspended registrar K S Anil Kumar but to provide him only a subsistence allowance. Kunnummal suspended Anil Kumar from service on July 2 but syndicate members met in his absence on July 5 and claimed to have revoked his suspension and issued orders. Kunnummal later handed over registrar's charge to planning director Mini Kappan. Meanwhile, Raj Bhavan has directed Kappan to appear before the governor on Saturday with score sheets provided by the Kerala University youth festival judging committee. A group of winners had approached the court against Kunnummal's refusal to accept the results of some competitions, where four or five students were declared joint first-prize winners. It was alleged that the university union, which organises the festival, made arrangements to declare a group of students as joint winners as it would help them gain considerable grace marks. Planning director Kappan, whom the VC appointed as registrar in charge, has been summoned to obtain details before filing a court affidavit. The chancellor is one of the accused in the complaint filed by the students. Meanwhile, the administration crisis continues in Kerala University. Although the VC gave the registrar's charge to Kappan, pro-CPM members in the office refused to provide her with the files' links. Since the syndicate standing committee's recommendation to sanction additional seats for some courses did not reach the office of the VC through the registrar in charge, he refused to sign the same.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala University V-C orders withholding of Registrar's salary
The administrative tussle at Kerala University continues to simmer, with Vice-Chancellor in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal initiating measures to withhold the salary of Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar. The Vice-Chancellor, who remains firm on the Registrar's suspension despite the Syndicate's claim that it has been revoked, has directed the Finance Officer to adopt necessary steps in this regard. The officer has been ordered to stop disbursing Dr. Kumar's salary, while only allowing subsistence allowance in accordance with service rules. Dr. Kunnummal had suspended the Registrar from service on July 2 by invoking his special powers under the University Act. However, Left-backed Syndicate members claimed to have revoked the suspension on July 6, despite the Vice-Chancellor adjourning and exiting the meeting. Joint Registrar P. Harikumar, who officiated as Registrar in the interim period, subsequently issued an order to formally reinstate Dr. Kumar. Mr. Harikumar was served a show-cause notice for these actions, allegedly done at the behest of Syndicate members. Despite the Vice-Chancellor assigning the Registrar's duties to Director (Planning and Development) Mini Dejo Kappen, Dr. Kumar continues to report to his office, purportedly acting on the instructions issued by the Syndicate.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
KU crisis: Pro-left syndicate members counter Gurukkal's statement, demand its withdrawal
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pro-left Syndicate members of Kerala University have urged Kerala State Higher Education Council vice-chairperson Rajan Gurukkal to retract his statement blaming the Kerala University Syndicate for the current crisis in the university. The Syndicate members said Gurukkal's aspersions on the Syndicate were not only erroneous but also lent unintended grist to the Sangh Parivar's mill. In a statement on July 20, Gurukkal had said the Syndicate's ignorance of the Act and Statutes was the prime reason for the crisis. According to M Lenin Lal, pro-LDF syndicate member, Gurukkal's accusation of statutory violations by the Kerala University Syndicate is wholly unfounded. The real flashpoint lies in the overreach of Vice-Chancellor-in-Charge Mohanan Kunnummal. On July 2, Kunnummal suspended Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar for cancelling a private event at the Senate Hall, where a portrait of Bharat Mata, adorned with a saffron flag, was displayed in the presence of Governor Rajendra Arlekar. Citing Section 10(13) of the Kerala University Act, Kunnummal claimed an emergency necessitated his decision. However, Section 10(14) explicitly restricts the Vice-Chancellor's authority to suspend officers above the rank of Deputy Registrar, such as the Registrar, a senior officer under Chapter III, Section 9.
