Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the row over awarding grace marks to examinees violating university norms, cornered Kerala Higher Educational Minister K T Jaleel is making a bid to defend his aide and thereby himself. However, visual evidence suggests Jaleel's claim that his private secretary Dr K Sherafudeen had only attended the inaugural ceremony of the marks adalat of the Mahatma Gandhi University and not the whole ceremony is baseless.
After the inauguration, the private secretary had taken part in the adalat for hours, the 2-hour-20-minute video from the event proved.
The University syndicate’s decision to award moderation marks to a failed B Tech student has kicked up a row after opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala recently claimed the minister intervened in helping a candidate pass an examination conducted by the University. It is alleged one more mark was granted to the B Tech student on the directions of the minister's private secretary who was taking part in the adalat, an official forum to redress grievances or resolve disputes.
The minister, while inaugurating the event via video-conferencing, had said that as he could not take part in the function, his private secretary Sherafudeen would be present.
Even one hour after the inauguration, the private secretary is seen interacting with the university registrar and higher education principal secretary, the video shows.
Meanwhile, Sherafudeen has denied any role in the row. "The syndicate decided to give extra marks to the student. One of the syndicate members announced the decision to grant moderation to B Tech students. This is clear from the video images. Neither do I know the student who sought for moderation nor her kin. I have not intervened in the issue," he explained.
Meanwhile, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has sought a report from the MG University vice-chancellor over the controversy. He has also forwarded the letter from Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, asking him to take the necessary action.
Chennithala had sought the resignation of Jaleel and announce a judicial probe into the scandal.
De facto power?
Private secretaries of ministers do not even have the authority to approve files. Still, Minister Jaleel's private secretary was directly involved in the matters of the university adalat. It has been found that he is a constant presence at similar adalats. He had also taken part in the adalats of the University of Kerala as well as the Calicut University along with minister.
Sherafudeen, who is the former deputy registrar of the Kottayam-based MG University, has reportedly supervised such adalats even from the minister’s office.
The support of the CPM and knowledge on university affairs have made the private secretary a sought-after power centre. He had earlier been the general secretary of an employee's outfit of the ruling CPM. He had also served as a syndicate member in between.
Apart from the private secretary, even Jaleel's additional private secretary took part in the controversial adalat of the MG University.
Misuse of adalats
Adalats are organised to settle disputes over exams and certificates. However, it cannot take the decision on granting moderation to candidates short of pass marks. Over the years the adalat has virtually become a means to bypass university norms. When it became crucial to resolve issues, even the regular meet to grant marks began to be a part of adalat.
If the adalat gets the application for moderation, the vice-chancellor and exam department have to issue directives on it. However, the University syndicate took the decision on the B Tech moderation even when the moderation request was pending before its Academic Council.
Moderation procedure
The authority to grant moderation of marks rests with the pass board and not the syndicate. If the percentage of students who cleared the exam is low in one subject or if several students complain that an exam was difficult, then the pass board can recommend for moderation. However, this is done before the results are announced. It is for the syndicate to approve this or not.
If moderation is sought after the results are announced, then the application has to be sent to the vice-chancellor and the panel of deans. After getting the approval from the Academic Council, then the application would reach the syndicate. And if the syndicate approves, it would reach the pass board, which has to take the final decision.
The student
The row is linked to a B Tech student of a self-financing college in Kothamangalam. In February 2019, at an adalat conducted by the MG University, the girl student had sought grace marks granted for participation in the National Service Scheme for addition to the supplementary examination of the sixth semester. The plea was rejected since she had already been given grace mark. But it is alleged Sherafudeen made an intervention on her behalf at the adalat.
