Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit ousts Malayalam department HoD

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS), Kalady, removed V Lissy Mathew from the post of Malayalam department head for the alleged lapses on her part in choosing PhD candidates. Mathew, who was the subject expert in several controversial selection processes involving close relatives of CPM leaders, lost the HoD status allegedly for helping the wife of a former Congress MLA obtain PhD admission at the university.
Some of the members on the interview board that had selected minister MB Rajesh’s wife Ninitha Kanichery had earlier claimed that Mathew had turned the rank list upside down to facilitate the appointment of Kanichery at the university.
Sources said the department, after issuing notification for nine PhD research fellow vacancies, had later made arrangements for admitting 18 candidates. In her reply to a show-cause notice, Mathew explained that it happened since several guides reported vacancies after the notification and requested for enrolment of candidates. The decision to admit 18 candidates was taken in consultation with an 18-member research committee of the varsity. However, the varsity rejected the explanation, cancelled the entire list and removed Mathew from the HoD post.
Meanwhile, the Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) accused the university VC MV Narayanan of showing political discrimination even in PhD admissions.
No steps yet to cancel unauthorized marks
Meanwhile, Kerala University is yet to take steps to cancel the marks gifted to 123 degree students three years ago by misusing the university deputy registrar’s computer password. It has been alleged that the university is playing the waiting game in order to help the students obtain a favourable court order.
SUCC, which urged chancellor Arif Mohammed Khan to direct the VC to withdraw the unauthorized marks granted to the students, alleged that the examination software was misused by the university staff.
A study by the syndicate had earlier claimed that marks were accidentally given to students owing to a technical snag in the computer network. However, later a section officer was dismissed from service for tampering with the mark lists after accepting bribe from students.
Judgment postponed
Meanwhile, the high court on Thursday postponed the pronouncement of its judgment on petitions filed by Kerala University senate members who were ousted by the chancellor.
Though justice Devan Ramachandran had scheduled to deliver the judgment on Thursday, it was postponed as one of the parties informed that they have not yet received a copy of an interim order issued by the court regarding the constitution of a search committee to select the new VC of the university. The court is likely to pronounce its judgment on December 22.