Govt's losing battle against Prof Ciza Thomas

Due to ideological animosity, political parties harbour unnecessary dogmas, enmity, and ostracism against certain individuals. This comes from a rogue culture still palpable among leaders of major parties. Moreover, it is also a sly message to others; reminding the fate awaiting them if tried to turn against the party. Ironically, after all these shenanigans, the same leaders would shed tears for the constitution losing sheen in the country. There will be protests, and candlelight vigils to bring sanity to the nation. What a joke.

The Constitution promises equal justice and opportunity to every citizen. Some political outfits in Kerala practice this only in talk but not in their deed. This reeks of hypocrisy. Regular pension and other service benefits remain the rights of Professor Ciza Thomas but she has been deprived of all this, only because she once dutifully followed the Governor’s order.

Kerala is ruled by a party, that once stood against the zamindars who refused to pay the labourers their fees. Sadly, the current ruling elites have adopted a ‘Zamindar’ approach when it comes to Ciza Thomas’ case.

No matter how much the government resist, the pension payment will have to be allowed to Ciza. It would be wise enough for the government to act now rather than putting the chief secretary in the cage to face the court’s wrath.

Prof. Ciza Thomas is the scapegoat in the tug-of-war between former governor Arif Muhammad Khan and the government. According to the Governor's order, this teacher took charge as the VC of the Technical University. The appointment was made by annulling the government's suggestion to make Ishita Roy the interim VC. Since that day, Ciza turned into antagonist No. 1 for the government. The government stooped to the point of charging her with even the crime of theft. The government is insisting that pensions and other benefits will not be given.

In her petition filed in the Administrative Tribunal, Ciza Thomas alleged that C. Ajayan, Additional Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, was the brain behind all the nefarious works targeting her.

In any case, the state administrative tribunal has ordered the government to pay interim pension and dues to Ciza Thomas within two weeks. The government should take action to provide it without resorting to tricks to prolong this problem further. Doggedness in a losing game would hurt further and would bring in humiliation. The government should turn the pages to see how they fared in the DGP Senkumar case.