As Kerala VC-Syndicate standoff continues, Registrar's original appointment questioned

Thiruvananthapuram: Just when it looked like the stubbornness of the Vice Chancellor and the Syndicate had pushed University of Kerala into an administrative deadlock, a swift and unanticipated move has been initiated to checkmate Registrar Prof KS Anil Kumar.

The Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) on Monday submitted a complaint before Governor/Chancellor Rajendra Arlekar, saying that Anil Kumar's appointment as Registrar flouted the statutes of the Kerala University, and urged the Chancellor to immediately remove him from the post. The complaint stated that Anil Kumar was posted on deputation and that his deputation was not in order.

 It says that Section 12(4) of the Kerala University First Statutes, 1977, stipulates that a candidate chosen as Registrar on deputation should be a central or state government employee. "Anil Kumar was a teacher in a private college under the University (Thiruvithamcore Devaswom Board College)," the complaint says.

 Here is what the section says: "... the Selection Committee may, in the interest of the University and for reasons to be recorded in writing, appoint a person as Registrar by deputation from the State Government Service or Central Government Service on such conditions as it thinks fit."

 The complaint refers to a precedent. A private college professor appointed as Registrar of Calicut University had earlier been quashed by the High Court. 

 The SUCC complaint said that it was the Syndicate meeting in February that had extended Anil Kumar's deputation by four years. "Though it was known that it was a violation of rules, his tenure was extended to serve the government's interests. All Syndicate members owing allegiance to the LDF government turned up at the meeting and voted to extend Anil Kumar's tenure," the complaint said.

 The VC had suspended Anil Kumar on June 25, alleging that he had insulted the Chancellor by attempting to cancel a programme in which he was the chief guest. The VC also questioned the Registrar's claim that religious symbols were used at the programme held in the University Senate Hall. The Registrar had objected to the Bharatamba portrait placed on the dais by the organisers (Padmanabha Sewa Samithi). The VC, on his part, refused to consider it as a religious symbol. 

 Nonetheless, Anil Kumar defied the VC's suspension and resumed duty as Registrar. By then, VC had appointed a temporary registrar. Administrative matters have come to a standstill in the University.