Complaint cannot be put into trash, an enquiry is normal; Governor seeks explanation from VC in Priya Varghese's appointment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The governor asked VC for an explanation regarding the appointment of Priya Varghese, wife of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's private secretary K K Ragesh in Calicut University. The governor had received a complaint that the action of the university in appointing Priya Varghese as an associate professor was illegal and the appointment should be cancelled. The Governor has taken action based on this complaint.

But the governor refused to publicly respond to the controversy. The governor said that if a complaint is received, it is a natural process to ask for an explanation and otherwise the complaint received cannot be put into trash. The governor also stated that he does not intend to respond to the media in the controversy.

The complaint was that Priya Varghese was appointed without having eight years of teaching experience as per UGC rules and was given the first rank by ignoring the qualified candidates. It was also alleged that Kannur VC Gopinath Ravindran was reappointed as a reward for giving first rank to Priya Varghese. The Save University Campaign Committee filed a complaint against the appointment of Priya Varghese to the Governor.

Priya Varghese was a teacher at Kerala Varma College, Thrissur . Last November, an interview was conducted for the post of Associate Professor in Malayalam and based on this, Priya Varghese was given the first rank. But the rank list was shelved when the controversy arose . But the university syndicate meeting held last month approved this list and appointed Priya Varghese.