Suspension of Kerala University Registrar draws flak

A day after Kerala University Vice Chancellor-in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal suspended Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar over the Bharat Mata portrait row, Mr. Kunnummal drew flak from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Ministers and the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) who accused him of overstepping his limit.

Reacting to Mr. Kunnummal’s decision here on Thursday, Higher Education Minister R. Bindu came out in strong support of Mr. Anil Kumar stating that Mr. Kunnummal had violated rules and misused his power. Ms. Bindu said the State government would seek legal advice on the matter. According to the Minister, Mr. Anil Kumar faces no problem in continuing with his official duties as Mr. Kunnummal has overstepped his mandate in suspending him.

“The university Syndicate is the appointing authority of the Registrar. That being so, the Syndicate has the authority to initiate disciplinary action against him. The Vice-Chancellor can bring the issue to the notice of the Syndicate,” she said, adding that Mr. Kunnummal has acted as a tool of the saffronisation agenda to remove the Registrar.

Event at Senate Hall

Ms. Bindu also said that Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar could have stayed away from the June 25 event at the Senate Hall of the university, given the tense situation there. She said the entire incident was part of the RSS attempts to “infiltrate” the Bharat Mata motif, a religious symbol, into the secular mindset of the people.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the Vice-Chancellor does not have the power to suspend the Registrar. Mr. Kunnummal’s decision is legally unsustainable, Mr. Satheesan said. The Governor, who is Chancellor of the university, should behave in a manner befitting his position, he said. Mr. Satheesan also pointed out that the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is yet to comment on the issue.

General Education Minister V. Sivankutty also slammed Mr. Kunnummal’s decision to place Mr. Anil Kumar under suspension. While Mr. Kunnummal’s action was based on Rule 10 (13) of the Kerala University Act, Rule 10 (14) clearly points out that the Vice-Chancellor is empowered to initiate disciplinary action only against officials below the rank of deputy registrar, Mr. Sivankutty said.

Raj Bhavan’s demand

Raj Bhavan is understood to have expressed its displeasure to the State Police over what it has described as a serious “security lapse” during the SFI-DYFI marches taken out to Raj Bhavan on Wednesday night. Raj Bhavan has also sought stern action against police officers responsible for the alleged lapse, sources said.

Meanwhile, Ciza Thomas, Vice Chancellor in-charge of the Kerala Technical University, assumed charge on Thursday as the V-C in-charge of the Kerala University as Mr. Kunnummal is on leave. She took charge under tight police presence and amid demonstrations carried out on the university campus.

Left-aligned service organisations, including AKPCTA and the Kerala University Employees Union, also staged protests at the university headquarters against the suspension of the Registrar.