Kerala University Deadlock Persists Over Registrar’s Suspension Debate

Quick Summary

• The State government’s renewed attempts too resolve the administrative standoff at Kerala University have failed.
• Vice-Chancellor in-charge, Mohanan Kunnummal, stands firm on suspending Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar and refuses to recognize his reinstatement.
• Higher Education Minister R. Bindu’s second reconciliation effort was rejected by the vice-Chancellor.
• dr. Kunnummal returned to campus amidst heavy police presence and reassigned Dr. Kumar’s e-file access to Director (Planning and Development) Mini Dejo Kappen while directing Keltron not to alter digital file access without approval.
• Campus remained calm initially but turned tense by afternoon as Students Federation of India (SFI) activists blocked the main gate; the Vice-Chancellor exited thru another gate.
• The Vice-chancellor approved ₹10 lakh funding for university union activities after rejecting a similar submission from Dr. Kumar earlier; approval followed resubmission by Dr.Kappen.
• A directive has been issued withholding Registrar’s salary,making finance Officer personally accountable for any external pressure leading to its release.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The ongoing administrative impasse at Kerala University underscores meaningful institutional tension between authorities, with state-level interventions proving ineffective thus far. The refusal of Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal to recognize government decisions regarding Registrar reinstatement highlights deeper governance issues possibly impacting operational efficiency in higher education management.

Heavy police presence and student protests mark escalating unrest on campus, reflecting dissatisfaction over perceived administrative rigidity or political interference within educational institutions-a trend that could pose challenges beyond this particular instance if unresolved.Additionally,financial directives such as withholding salaries or reassigning access rights further complicate matters by undermining trust among stakeholders while emphasizing power consolidation at senior levels of administration.

resolving these disagreements through structured negotiation is critical for maintaining integrity and normalcy across academic activities in one of India’s key universities.

Read More: The Hindu – Full Article