Thiruvananthapuram: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan wondered how a person who cannot write two sentences correctly can continue as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala.
The Governor was referring to a letter written in English by V P Mahadevan Pilai, the VC of the University. As reported earlier the University Of Kerala summarily dismissed the Governor's proposal to grant D.Litt degree to President of India Ram Nath Kovind. The VC had informed the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the University, about the rejection of the latter's proposal through a handwritten letter.
The Governor hit out at the poor language in which the letter was written by the VC of one of the oldest universities in the country. It was on December 7 that the VC gave the letter to the Governor.
"I don't believe that anyone who is educated would write in this manner,” Khan said.
The Governor said the VC’s problem is not that he cannot write a few sentences in flawless English. He alleged that the VC doesn't even know how to speak or interact.
“The Rashtrapati Bhavan’s policy is not to accept honorary degrees from our universities; however, it was decided to make a special request to consider the proposal. But on December 5, the vice-chancellor called up the Raj Bhavan and informed them that the proposal had been rejected. I don't want to disclose the words spoken by him,” the Governor said.
Khan also alleged that the Kerala University had rejected the proposal for conferring D.Litt on President Ram Nath Kovind because of external interference. On the controversial re-appointment of Kannur VC he alleged that the Advocate General had misled him.
Regarding his attempt to honour the President, the Governor said: "I had summoned the vice-chancellor after it came to my notice that the students had complained that the Kerala University had not organised convocation for the past 10 years. He came and met me. When I suggested that the President may be invited to the convocation, he agreed and said it would be ideal to have him. He said if the decision to confer D.Litt on the President is decided as per rules, the University would consider it.”
Mahadevan Pilai declined to react to the Governor’s allegations.
