'Won't accept Governor's decision suspending Pookode University VC', says minister J Chinchu Rani

ALAPPUZHA: Minister J Chinchu Rani condemned Governor’s abrupt decision to suspend the Pookode University Vice-Chancellor, which was made in the wake of the brutal death case of Siddharath, who committed suicide after being subjected to brutal torture by seniors in Wayanad. "The governor took this decision suddenly without any consultation with the government or the department", the Minister responded to the media in Alappuzha and said that her government would not accept the Governors's unilateral decision.

“There were some skirmishes between students in college. The police are investigating the issue. Now 19 students have been arrested. The dean of the university is in charge of the hostel and is responsible for all actions of the students. He should have investigated the issue that was going on that day. Even the student's death was reported by someone else in the hostel. The Dean should have taken the responsibility of informing the student's home about the death as soon as possible. A serious error has occurred.

An investigation is continuing under the leadership of the university. Police investigation is also running parallel and some students were debarred for three years. It's not trivial.” The minister also revealed that an order was issued to suspend the dean at the earliest.

Earlier, the Governor suspended Pookode University chairman Dr. M.R. Saseendranath. The governor also ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. Raj Bhavan has issued an order in this regard.