THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite the Kerala High Court's direction to Vice Chancellor Dr Mohnanan Kunnumal to summon a university Syndicate meeting to deliberate on the suspension of Kerala University Registrar KS Anil Kumar, the suspended official may have to wait for at least two more months for relief.
The Syndicate last met on September 2, and as per varsity rules, the Vice Chancellor must convene the next Syndicate meeting only after two months.
"A member of the Left-backed Syndicate had approached the police with a complaint that the V-C altered the minutes of the previous Syndicate meeting. The V-C is of the view that the next Syndicate meeetiing need to be convened only after the case is resolved and consensus prevails," said a source close to the Vice Chancellor.
On August 28, the High Court had upheld the authority of the Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) to chair meetings of the Syndicate and endorse its decisions, TNIE had then reported that the verdict would have a bearing on Anil Kumar's case.
In the recent judgement, the High Court criticsed the manner in which the Kerala University Syndicate held a meeting, after it was called off by the Vice Chancellor, to 'revoke" Anil Kumar's suspension. The court underscored that such meetings can lead to "several mischievous situations".
Meanwhile, pro-Left Syndicate members said the verdict underscored the varsity body's authority in deciding on the Registrar's suspension. "It is to be noted that the High Court has asked the Vice Chancellor to convene the Syndicate meeting to take a decison on the suspension. The Court has also underscored that the decision will be applicable for the V-C as well," said G Muraleedharan, Syndicate member.
The Registrar was suspended on July 2 following a row over the display of a photo of 'Bharat Mata' at an event attended by the Governor in the university's Senate Hall The Registrar had approached the High Court seeking an order quashing his suspension and also a directive to the V-C not to prevent him from discharging his duties as Registrar.