Professor Anand Viswanath has long been target of students caught cheating; previous transfer order was revoked by High Court

THODUPUZHA: Professor Anand Vishwanath of Munnar Government College has long been the target of attempts to trap him in false cases. Over the years, students and others tried to frame him in retaliation for his disciplinary actions against students caught cheating. After an 11-year legal battle over one such case, in which he was accused of threatening and harassing students, he has now been proven innocent.

The first attempt to target him dates back to 2007, after a student affiliated with a left-wing student organisation was caught cheating by Anand and subsequently debarred. Following this, the then Devikulam MLA wrote a letter to the Education Minister, claiming that Anand was engaged in subversive activities and demanding his transfer.. Anand was later transferred to Malappuram Government College, but he successfully challenged the transfer in court.

In 2014, after another case of students caught cheating, Anand was again transferred as part of departmental action, this time also to Malappuram Government College. Anand has previously served as a Second Lieutenant NCC officer at Kasaragod College and was the NSS contingent leader representing Kerala in the 2003 Republic Day parade.

Humble beginnings

Anand Vishwanath was born as the sixth of seven children in a plantation worker’s family in Chokkanad Estate, Munnar. Despite a childhood filled with hardship, he pursued his studies with determination. He completed his SSLC from Munnar Government High School, pre-degree and a bachelor’s in Economics from Chittoor Government College, Palakkad, and an MA from Victoria College, Palakkad. During his studies, he did various jobs, including manual labour, to pay his fees.

Will continue to fight

Although the court has cleared him of all harassment charges, Anand has yet to receive all the benefits due to him, including retirement gratuity and pension commutation, totalling around Rs 35 lakh. Three annual increments were cancelled due to the case, and his pension is currently only 75% of what he is entitled to. Anand is now preparing to file a petition with the Kerala Administrative Tribunal to reclaim his full entitlements.

“Everyone, including the teachers who conspired to frame me in a false case, will be brought to justice,” said Professor Anand Vishwanath.