
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first Syndicate meeting convened by K Sivaprasad, after assuming the charge as Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (KTU), was called off following a heated argument between him and Left-backed Syndicate members.
As the pro-Left Syndicate members continued with the discussions, the Vice-Chancellor later reported on the ‘unauthorised meeting’ of the university body to Governor Rajendra Arlekar, the varsity’s chancellor. Sivaprasad also issued a notice to the Registrar of the varsity who continued to attend the meeting after it was called off.
The Vice-Chancellor walked out of the Syndicate meeting after the pro-Left Syndicate members included an item in the agenda without his approval. The Syndicate members wanted to discuss the issue related to the suspension of a pro-Congress employee of the varsity.
As the VC did not allow the matter to be discussed, an argument erupted following which other items in the agenda were not taken up for discussion. Despite the VC calling off the meeting, the Syndicate members continued with the discussions.
However, the pro-left Syndicate members maintained that they insisted on discussing the inquiry report on the suspended varsity official based on the directives of the High Court. The Syndicate members disputed the VC’s charge that they held an ‘unauthorised meeting’ and added that Sivaprasad walked out abruptly after asking them to continue.
The Syndicate members said that unlike other universities, statutory members are also de-facto members of the varsity’s apex body and the VC had no right to direct the Registrar not to continue with the meeting. Meanwhile, the Confederation of University Employees Organisations (CUEO), Kerala, has condemned the VC’s action as an attempt to further the Sangh Parivar agenda to create an administrative crisis in the varsity.
In a statement, CUEO accused the Vice-Chancellor of shying away from his administrative responsibilities. By walking out of the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor did not allow discussions on important matters related to construction of the university headquarters and the service issues of teachers and non-teaching staff.
Joint agitation of employees
“A joint agitation of all university employees in the state will be launched if the VC does not mend his ways and start functioning in a lawful and responsible manner,” the Confederation of University Employees Organisationss said.