Kannur University’s urgent senate today, VC to meet media

KANNUR: An urgent senate will be convened in Kannur University today in the wake of the high court quashing the appointment of Priya Varghese. The university may seek legal advice regarding the implementation of the court order and further steps to be taken. The Kannur VC is likely to meet the media today.

Meantime, the strength of the protesters has also increased due to the court verdict. The opposition’s youth and student organizations are likely to stage a strike to the university today. Considering this, the post-graduation function to be attended by Higher Education Minister R Bindu has been postponed.

The high court quashed the appointment of Priya Varghese, wife of K K Ragesh, chief minister’s private secretary, as she did not have eight years of teaching experience required to be appointed as an associate professor of Malayalam in Kannur University.

The court had clarified that the period when she was an assistant professor in Thrissur Kerala Varma College and Kunnamkulam Vivekananda College can be considered as teaching experience and research leave and holding other positions in other institutions cannot be considered.

The university was directed to re-examine the qualifications and decide whether Priya should continue in the present rank list. The recruitment process can be continued by revising the rank list.

The order was on the plea filed by Joseph Skaria, head of the Malayalam department of S B College in Changanassery and second rank holder, against the appointment of Priya Varghese.