THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major embarrassment to the LDF government, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has suspended Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University vice-chancellor Dr M R Saseendranath in the wake of the death of J S Siddharthan, a second year student of the veterinary college at Pookode in Wayanad district.
The governor initiated a probe into the incident and wrote to the High Court registrar, seeking a sitting judge’s service for a judicial probe.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested all the accused in the case related to the mob trial and subsequent death of Siddharthan.
The suspension order issued by the governor on Saturday also stated that P C Saseendran — a former professor with the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University —will replace Saseendranath, as officiating vice-chancellor.
The communiqué from the governor’s secretariat, Raj Bhavan, issued by chief secretary to the governor/chancellor Davendra Kumar Dhodawat, said Saseendran shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the vice-chancellor with immediate effect until further orders.
The governor’s move came at a time when the LDF government had not taken any steps against the college authorities who had come under flak from various quarters.In a major development which has come as a big blow to the LDF government, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has suspended Dr M R Saseendranath, Vice-chancellor of College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Pookode in Wayanad.
Guv Khan alleges serious lapse on part of V-C
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan used his power as the chancellor, wherein he also issued an urgent exemplary action and ordered a detailed enquiry into the matter invoking the provisions of section 9 (9) of KVASU Act, 2010.
Khan alleged that there has been a serious lapse from the side of the vice-chancellor. Unleashing his tirade against the PFI-SFI nexus rampant on various campuses, the governor claimed that the college authorities did not do anything.
“Despite Siddharthan being inflicted with injuries under the guise of ragging, the college authorities did not act. The college hostels have become the den of activities of PFI-SFI students who are hand in glove. I’m saying this as per the police reports which I received. Sidharthan had not got any food or water for 24 hours,” Khan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
He had visited Siddharthan’s house at Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. The governor had also sought a report from the college authorities. The Raj Bhavan said the KVASU report showed there was gross dereliction of duty on the part of the vice-chancellor at the time of Sidharth’s death.
“The lack of regard to harmonious atmosphere on the campus and indifference towards the affairs of the university under the leadership of the incumbent vice-chancellor has gone to a level beyond comprehension in terms of rule of law, which is an ominous sign and does not augur well for the conduct of affairs in the university and for the higher education sector in the state for the times to come,” the Raj Bhavan report said.
But P D T Achary, former secretary general of Lok Sabha, told TNIE, “The chancellor does not have executive power as only a government can order a judicial probe. A chancellor has certain powers in the university. He can advise the government to go for a judicial probe,” Achary said.
It should be recalled that the LDF government and J Chinchu Rani, the minister in charge of KVASU, had endorsed the college authorities, which had not gone down well with Sidharth’s family. Chinchu Rani condemned the governor’s hasty decision to suspend the vice-chancellor.
“The governor took this hasty decision without holding any consultation with the LDF government. The dean should have taken the responsibility of informing the student’s home about the death. A serious error has happened on his part,” Chinchu Rani told reporters in Alappuzha
