In a rare show of unity, Syndicate members of the University of Kerala owing allegiance to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have come out in the open against Vice Chancellor P.K. Radhakrishnan in the controversy surrounding the student amenity centre at the university headquarters.
Members of the rival coalitions have written a joint petition seeking Governor P. Sathasivam’s intervention in the issue.
Accusing the Vice Chancellor of functioning in a unilateral manner, they have alleged that he attempted to inaugurate the building on August 15 without informing any stakeholders of the university, including the Syndicate.
They pointed out that the amenity centre had been envisaged as a ‘monument’ to mark the platinum jubilee celebrations of the university. A formal inauguration had been planned in the presence of the Governor, Chief Minister, and the Pro-Chancellor of the university, they said.
Despite convening a meeting on August 11, the Vice Chancellor had not disclosed his intention to launch the amenity centre. The Syndicate members called for measures to prevent such “thoughtless activities on the part of responsible officers” of the university.
The construction of the building had commenced on December 8, 2014, at an estimated cost of ₹7.05 crore with a clause that provided for 15% cost escalation. The Syndicate members said that works, including interior decoration to the tune of ₹1.35 crore and furnishing of the proposed bank and post office, were pending. The tender process for installing a lift was under way.
The Syndicate members’ action comes days after Dr. Radhakrishnan accused a section of the Syndicate of propagating baseless allegations. He had alleged that the Syndicate members had thrown a spanner in several ambitious projects of the university.