Kerala University Syndicate ‘revokes’ Registrar’s suspension, V-C rejects legality of decision taken after adjournment

Kerala University found itself at the centre of an escalating legal and administrative stand-off on Sunday, after a special Syndicate meeting, convened to finalise the university’s Statement of Facts for submission to the Kerala High Court on the suspension of Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar, descended into high drama.

Interim Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas refused to allow any further discussion on the matter, asserting that the meeting had been called solely to finalise the court-bound statement. She declared the meeting dissolved and walked out when a majority of Syndicate members raised the demand to revoke the suspension, which she termed sub judice and outside the approved agenda.

However, the majority of the Syndicate members, primarily backed by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), proceeded with the meeting under the chairpersonship of senior member P.M. Radhamani to revoke the suspension of Dr. Kumar, who reassumed office later in the day.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, has rejected the legality of the “post-dissolution” proceedings, stating that no decision taken after the dissolution of the meeting has legal validity.

Syndicate’s claim

Countering the claim, the Left-backed Syndicate members, led by G. Muralidharan, maintained that the decision was in tune with the university statutes. They added that the Registrar’s suspension violated university norms and that Vice-Chancellor in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal misused his powers under Section 10(13) of the Kerala University Act, which allows immediate action only in exigent circumstances. The Vice-Chancellor was also accused of bypassing statutory norms including that to provide the Registrar a chance to be heard.

Committee formed

Adding another layer to the issue, the Syndicate also decided to constitute a three-member committee headed by Mr. Muralidharan to investigate the events surrounding the Senate Hall incident of June 25, where the controversy first erupted during a function attended by the Governor.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-aligned Syndicate members also strongly objected to the demand raised by Left-backed members to revoke the suspension. They termed any discussion outside the agenda legally untenable. During the meeting, Syndicate member P.S. Gopakumar also accused CPI(M)-backed member R. Rajesh of maligning the High Court through a Facebook post.

Congress-backed Syndicate member Ahamed Fazil Y. distanced himself from both sides, asserting that while he opposed the suspension, he also believed the final say rests with the court.

Minister’s support

Education Minister R. Bindu lent support to the Syndicate majority as she stated that it is the Syndicate, and not the Vice-Chancellor, that holds the authority to appoint or suspend the Registrar. The Syndicate’s decision in legally valid, she added.

With both the Vice-Chancellor and the Syndicate preparing separate affidavits to be submitted to the High Court, the matter is poised for a legal showdown.