Move to appoint A N Shamseer MLA’s wife; Governor seeks explanation from university VC

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The move to appoint AN Shamseer MLA’s wife in Kannur university has received a setback. Now, the governor has sought VC’s explanation over the issue. The action was taken on the complaint given by save university campaign committee before the governor. The complaint alleges that when the model of conduct is in operation, a purported attempt is being made to appoint A N Shamseer MLA’s wife Dr Sehala in the permanent post of assistant professor by organising an interview via online.

The online interview for the permanent post of assistant director at UGC HRD Centre was conducted on April 16th. The appointment notification for the post of assistant director, HRD Centre, Kannur University was issued on June 30 in 2020. Although the posts in the HRD Centre are temporary as per UGC norms, the state government had given special permission to the university to create a permanent post of assistant director. The committee has also complained that the interview scores of other candidates were reduced to include Sehala in the final phase of the interview.

The move was to appoint candidates based on the score in the interview process, without giving due regard to their teaching and research experience. The committee in the complaint has also asked the governor to stop the appointment process of assistant director in HRD when the post of the director is lying vacant. The governor has scrutinised each and every allegation raised by the committee. After being convinced of the complaint the Governor has sought the vice-chancellor’s reply to know about the stand of the university on this issue.