The All-Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association (AKPCTA) has demanded the reinstatement of professor T J Joseph, the victim in the palm-chopping case, in service as he was acquitted in the controversial question paper case last week.
“Joseph should be reinstated immediately by the management of Thodupuzha Newman College, where he was the head of Malayalam department. The AKPCTA had raised this demand even when he was dismissed from the service on humanitarian grounds. But we are asking now as there is no case against him and is free legally,” said AKPCTA general secretary K Sreevalalsan.
The Thodupuzha Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, a few days ago, had exonerated Joseph from the question paper case as it had found he is innocent and that the question paper had not been prepared with any mala fide intention to hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community. “We have sent a memorandum to the college manager in this regard and are awaiting a response, as the appeal filed by Joseph against the dismissal is pending at the University Appellate tribunal. We expect a favourable decision from the management as early as possible considering the court order and Joseph’s term expires on March 31, 2014,” Sreevalalsan said.
“Further delay in reinstating him, who has suffered immense mental and physical agony, cannot be justified. The college authorities must take the necessary steps to reinstate Joseph considering the seriousness of his plight,” Sreevalalsan added.