THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A professor of medicine facing trial in a Vigilance case and who was earlier debarred by Kerala University has found a place in the probable list for the Vice-Chancellor’s post of Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) even as the medical community has called for selecting a non-controversial person with proven academic and administrative track record for the post.
It is said that the name of the professor in the Medical College Hospital here, who is also accused of taking ‘vindictive action’ against students, has found place in the probable list because of his proximity to the ruling front and also his closeness to the Chief Minister.
The Vigilance had in 2011 filed a chargesheet before the Vigilance court here against the professor and others in connection with a case related to the purchase of vials and the trial in the case is on. It should also be noted that in 2003, Kerala University had debarred him, when he was the chief examiner, for destroying answer sheets of students during the MBBS under-graduate exam.
Apart from this, PG Medical students had come out against him for alleged harassment and failing students purposefully. They had already complained to the Chief Minister in this respect and even demanded an inquiry by the State Women’s Commission into his alleged misbehaviour towards girl students.
Though the professor’s name had been included among the probables, the medical fraternity wants a person who is not involved in any controversy for the top post.
Maintaining that Vice-Chancellors are selected from the panel submitted by the search committee, Kerala Govt Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) general secretary C P Vijayan said that only a person having academic and administrative brilliance, who is suitable for the university, students and the faculty should be made the Vice-Chancellor.
Pointing out that the professor has good influence in the ruling front, Vijayan asserted that the Association would challenge if the government nominee in the search committee recommends the professor’s name.
“One cannot deny that the government nominee in the search committee could suggest the professor’s name under pressure. If such a situation arises, we will submit a representation to the Chancellor against it,” Vijayan said.
The tenure of K Mohandas as Vice-Chancellor of KUHS came to an end in July.