Kochi: The appointment of P M Sahala, wife of Thalassery MLA A N Shamseer, as assistant professor on contract by the Kannur University has been quashed by the Kerala High Court. The court took the decision after finding that the posting was not according to the rules. Sahala was given the post bypassing Dr M P Bindu, who had secured the first rank in the interview.

The court order was based on a petition filed by Bindu, a native of Chavassery in Kannur. It was found that Shamseer’s wife was given the job flouting the university notification and ignoring the rank list. Bindu pointed out in her plea that the university had not introduced reservation in contract appointments, but she was still ignored citing quota rules. The court had earlier sought the opinion of the state government and the university in the regard. The Kannur University submitted before the court that Sahala was given the post based on reservation.

Sahala was appointed as assistant professor on contract in the MEd section of the School of Pedagogical Sciences of Kannur University. She was earlier teaching in the BEd section of the School and had left that post to join the MEd section.

Bindu's petition

In her plea before the High Court, Bindu said that she had been working as Science assistant professor on contract at the university since June 24, 2015. Her contract was to end on June 22, 2018. But before that, the university invited applications for filling the post of assistant professor in School of Pedagogical Sciences. Bindu said that she attended the walk-in interview for the post on June 14. Though the rank list was not released, Bindu said that she had learnt from the department that she had won the first rank and Sahala was placed second with five marks less. However, it was Sahala who was later given the job.