UGC moves SC against Priya Varghese; favourable verdict will create national consequences

NEW DELHI: The UGC has filed a plea in the Supreme Court demanding cancellation of the appointment of Priya Varghese, wife of K K Ragesh, private secretary of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as an associate professor in Kannur University. The UGC approached the Supreme Court pointing out that the verdict in favour of Priya Varghese would have consequences at the national level. The UGC is questioning the Kerala High Court verdict upholding Priya's appointment. The UGC pointed out that her appointment does not meet the rules and regulations prescribed by the UGC 2018 Act.

The UGC claimed that while counting the number of years of experience, periods spent in non-teaching activities cannot be counted as teaching experience and Varghese did not qualify as she had included her service in non-teaching roles. The UGC plea also included a demand for an immediate stay of the Kerala High Court verdict. Priya Varghese had approached the Supreme Court even before the UGC filed the plea. Priya's plea mentioned that no order should be passed in these cases without hearing her arguments. The complainant Joseph Skaria said that he will appeal against the high court verdict, but has not moved the court yet.

A single bench of the high court had earlier ruled that Priya's teaching experience in the rank list for the appointment as associate professor in the Malayalam section of the university was not as per UGC rules. This was later cancelled by the division bench.