Malayalam lexicon editor’s posting in Kerala varsity kicks up row

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Close on the heels of allegations of nepotism in the selection of new Malayalam lexicon editor in Kerala University, KSU activists on Monday barged into the office of the new editor and gheraoed her.
The new editor, Poornima Mohan, a Sanskrit professor, was appointed as the Malayalam lexicon editor by KU, allegedly under the influence of the office of the chief minister. Poornima is the spouse of R Mohan, a former IRS officer working as the officer on special duty at the CMO.
It is alleged that Poornima, being not proficient enough in Malayalam, is not a scholar fit for the responsibility of the Malayalam lexicon editor, a post renowned Malayalam scholar like Sooranadu Kunjan Pillai had occupied in the past. Poornima, however, refused to react to the allegations that she was considered for the job owing to the influence her husband has in the CMO.
“I saw a notification and applied for the post. The university has selected me after completing the due process. I’m victimised for being a woman. I don’t need to prove myself in front of these people. It’s for the university to respond to such allegations,” she told reporters after police forcibly removed the KSU workers from her office.
Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) that raked up the appointment row alleged that the university vice-chancellor had unilaterally changed the qualification criteria prescribed in the university statute. “The VC revised the qualification prescribed for the lexicon editor. While the statute says that a Malayalam linguist of excellence with degree and postgraduate degrees in Malayalam should be considered for the post, the VC in the notification has changed the qualification as ‘eminent scholar having PhD degree in Malayalam/ Sanskrit’. This was done clearly to tweak the norms to suit the qualification of Poornima Mohan,” said SUCC chairman R S Sasikumar.
The committee has also submitted a petition to governor Arif Mohammed Khan, seeking an inquiry into the nepotism and favouritism charges against the university authorities. Meanwhile, KU has termed the allegations baseless. In a statement, the university said the appointment of Poornima was made on a deputation basis. “Steps are being taken to appoint a full-time director. For the past several years, university faculties were given the additional charge of the lexicon editor...Sanskrit was added in the list of qualifications as the scholarship in Sanskrit would be of great help for the lexicon editor,” the statement said.