Kerala Law Academy principal Lekshmi Nair (TV grab)» The Kerala University syndicate passed a resolution recommending action against Kerala Law Academy principal Lekshmi Nair who is facing allegations of nepotism and mismanagement.
» The syndicate convener recommended debarring Lekshmi Nair from exam-related activities for a period of five years.
Main findings in the report:
» Two CCTV cameras installed at the college women's hostel an intrusion into the privacy of the students
» The power to give internal marks to the students solely vested with the principal and the faculty members had no say in it.
» Internal marks were allotted flouting university norms.
KU syndicate wants Lekshmi Nair debarred for 5 years» More internal marks were allotted to Leskhmi Nair's future daughter-in-law, who had only 50 percent attendance.
» The principal even refused to submit documents which it sought as part of the probe.
Suresh Gopi MP meeting BJP national executive member V. Muraleedharan, who is observing a fast against the mismanagement in Kerala Law Academy. (TV grab).» Audio clippings also substantiate charges against the principal.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala University syndicate has passed a resolution recommending action against Kerala Law Academy principal Lekshmi Nair who is facing allegations of nepotism and mismanagement.
The resolution, recommending prompt action against Nair was passed through voting Saturday. Nine syndicate members backed the resolution, Manorama News reported. Earlier in the day, the syndicate sub-committee submitted its report indicting her to the syndicate. The committee's convener recommended debarring Lekshmi Nair from internal and university examination-related activities for a period of five years. The syndicate has requested the government to decide on further actions to be taken against the principal.
Read: Defiant Lekshmi Nair says won't quit unless dad asks her to
The report has also sought a probe into how the internal marks were given. The record of the attendance should be shown to the students once in every month and their signature should be obtained. The principal's future daughter-in-law Anuradha, who was reportedly given high internal marks despite having only 50 percent attendance, should be rusticated for a year, according to the recommendations.
Records missing
KU syndicate wants Lekshmi Nair debarred for 5 yearsMeanwhile, the Kerala University vice-chancellor informed that the records related to the affiliation of KLA were not with the university. The sub-committee report may be challenged in the court since the panel had not heard the version of the college management on the issue, according to the VC.
Latha Devi, the CPI member in the syndicate, demanded a probe into the disappearance of the affiliation records of KLA from the university. Meanwhile, the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) alleged that the CPM member of the sub-committee tried to overturn the report.
The findings of the sub-committee were based on the statements and evidence collected from the students and the college authorities. The panel found out there were anomalies in the allotment of internal marks and attendance. It also noted the harsh behavior of the principal with the students. The report also mentioned that the installation of two CCTV cameras in the women's hostel at inappropriate places could have been avoided.
It was the death of Jishnu Pranoy, a student of Nehru College of Engineering, Thrissur, on January 6, that had opened the floodgates of protests against the nondemocratic regime in educational institutions across Kerala. Protests erupted at Kerala Law Academy on January 15 after various students’ organizations went on a rampage in the campus alleging favoritism and harassment against its principal Lekshmi Nair.
Governor intervenes
Meanwhile, governor justice (retd) P. Sathasivam has sought an immediate report from the university vice-chancellor on the issue.
The governor also handed over a letter by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala seeking a solution to the issue to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Chennithala, in his letter, had sought the intervention of the governor, who is also the chancellor of the university, to solve the crisis.
Students firm on demands
The students of the college, who have been staging protests against Lekshmi Nair for over two weeks, said they were not happy with the syndicate's report. They said they will end the strike only when the principal resigns from the post.
