Vice Chancellor cancels academic council meeting at the eleventh hour

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following police warning of possible clashes, the Kerala University Academic Council meeting was cancelled at the last minute by Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal.

The meeting was scheduled for 10 am on Thursday in the Senate Chamber. Most of the 110 members arrived earlier. However, the VC ordered the meeting to be cancelled at 9.30 am. Later, Dr. Mini Kappan, who is in charge of the Registrar, sent an email to all the members.

Suspended Registrar Dr. K.S. Anilkumar reached the Senate Chamber at 9 am. As a large group of students, including SFI activists, had gathered outside and camped at University College, the police informed the VC about the possibility of violence. There was also a possibility of protestors preventing Dr. Mini Kappan from attending the meeting. The council members arrived at the meeting with banners and placards. The VC, who was at the School of Public Health at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, ordered the immediate cancellation of the meeting.

Subsequently, the council members staged a protest in front of the university headquarters with banners and placards. Syndicate member G. Muraleedharan said that the meeting was cancelled illegally and said that he wanted to attend the meeting to discuss issues affecting the future of the students.