Tiff in Kerala University; Suspension of registrar Anil Kumar to continue, HC dismisses plea

KOCHI: The suspension of Kerala University registrar Dr K S Anil Kumar will continue. The Kerala High Court dismissed the plea filed by Anil Kumar challenging the suspension. The court directed the syndicate to take a decision on the issue. Anil Kumar was suspended over Bharat Mata issue. He then approached the high court questioning the action of the vice chancellor handing over the charge of the registrar to joint registrar.

The problems that arose following the seminar organized by the Sree Padmanabha Seva Samithi at the Kerala University Senate Hall in connection with the 50th anniversary of the emergency led to the suspension of the registrar. Governor Rajendra Arlekar was the chief guest. An opportunity was provided to offer flowers to the saffron-flagged Bharat Mata's picture. Noticing this, the registrar made it clear that the picture should be removed or would not permit to conduct the function. Then permission for the event was denied.

The Raj Bhavan sought an explanation from the VC regarding the denial of permission for the event attended by the chancellor, and based on this, the VC reported to the Governor against the registrar. The Governor, who examined the report, directed the VC to suspend him.

K S Anil Kumar then filed a plea in the high court, stating that the suspension was illegal. The high court had raised severe criticisms while considering the plea earlier. The court had criticized that the registrar's action affected the Governor's dignity and that the matter should not have been handled this way.

It is unfortunate that Bharat Mata was described as a woman carrying a flag. What provocative picture was displayed there? What law and order problem did the picture create in Kerala. The court had also asked the Kerala Police to reply about the circumstances that led to the postponement of the event at the Senate Hall. The high court had also directed the VC to file a detailed affidavit.