The Kerala University Teachers Organisation (KUTO) has taken exception to a recent university order, making mandatory that all Syndicate members be invited for seminars and conferences being organised by the study departments and centres. In a statement, the teachers’ collective alleged that the order was an attempt to facilitate the interference of power into academics. The directive could potentially imperil academic freedom, they claimed.
“KUTO has been campaigning about early signs of such an attitude. The organisation has resolved to campaign for the withdrawal of the order. Unless this is corrected, teachers will be treated merely as worthless entities meant to be managed by the Kerala Service Rules” the statement read.
The organisation has launched a campaign titled ‘rotten spring’ which demanded that the recommendation that had been put forth by the Standing Committee of the Syndicate on Departments and Other Institutions of the University be withdrawn.