Setback for Kerala VC: Stay on memo of charges against former registrar Anil Kumar; no further action should be taken, says HC

KOCHI: The High Court has stayed the further proceedings in the memo of charges issued by the Vice Chancellor to former Registrar of Kerala University Dr. KS Anilkumar. Justice PV Kunhikrishnan's order held that the VC did not have the authority to issue a memo to the Registrar. The Court directed the VC to file a reply affidavit explaining why the memo of charges was issued.

The court intervened in a petition filed by Anil Kumar against the VC issuing a memo of charges after the syndicate revoked the suspension order. The court observed that the issuance of the memo of charges was shocking. "It is not clear what the urgency was for this. The decision was not taken in the syndicate meeting. It is clear that there are other objectives behind this," the court said.

The registrar was suspended last July in connection with the Bharatamba controversy at the university. However, following the High Court order, the syndicate meeting convened by the Vice Chancellor cancelled the suspension. The VC did not accept this and left the decision to the Chancellor. Following this, the VC issued a new memo of charges on December 16. In the meantime, the government decided to reinstate Anilkumar to the post of Principal of Sasthamcotta Devaswom Board College.