CPM members without registering attendance; Kerala VC dissolves syndicate meeting, saying quorum not met

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala University Syndicate meeting was dissolved by VC Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal, declaring that the quorum was not met. The action was taken after the CPM members refused to register their attendance. Government representatives, including the Director of College Education, did not attend. Representatives of the Congress and BJP registered their attendance. The syndicate meeting was held on Friday after two months.

At the beginning of the meeting, before the agenda was discussed, CPM members demanded that the temporary registrar R. Rashmi be replaced and another teacher be given the responsibility. The VC took the stand that the frequent replacement of the registrar was an obstacle to the smooth administration of the university.

Both sides stood firm on their stand. The VC dissolved the meeting stating that there was no quorum after it was noticed that CPM members were attending the meeting without registering their attendance. Registrar R Rashmi also walked out of the meeting afterwards. CPM members staged a protest satyagraha in front of the university.

The VC will use special powers to take decisions, including granting research degrees, to avoid student difficulties. The Academic Council meeting this month and the Senate meeting to pass the budget are likely to be fraught with conflict. The VC is the chairman of both.