Kerala University V-C Mohanan Kunnummal Resumes Office Amid Tight Security, SFI Stays Silent

Swift Summary

• Mohanan Kunnummal, Kerala University’s Vice-Chancellor in-charge, returned to the university headquarters on July 18, 2025, after nearly 20 days of absence.
• His return followed student protests and alleged threats to his safety; he arrived under tight police security.
• Despite earlier announcements to block Mr. Kunnummal’s entry, SFI (Students’ Federation of India) did not stage protests due to pending certifications that needed clearance by the Vice-Chancellor.
• Recent tensions involve disagreement between Mr. Kunnummal and the Syndicate over the reinstatement of Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar.
• The Vice-Chancellor assigned Mini Dejo Kappen additional responsibilities as Registrar and convened an Academic Council meeting instead of accepting Syndicate members’ calls for an urgent Syndicate session.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The return of Kerala University’s in-charge Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal reflects a partial normalization following weeks marked by intense conflict between governance factions and SFI activists. While students’ decision not to protest suggests pragmatism towards resolving immediate academic needs such as certification issues, deeper structural discord persists within the administrative framework.

Disagreements around key personnel appointments-especially regarding the true authority between Syndicate-backed members versus decisions made unilaterally by Mr. Kunnummal-indicate ongoing friction that may impact governance efficiency at one of Kerala’s prominent universities. Whether these internal disputes will further erode trust among stakeholders or yield compromises remains critical for ensuring administrative stability moving forward.

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