Kannur University Associate Professor appointment: Priya Varghese not eligible, rank list should be reviewed, says HC

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday said that Priya Varghese, wife of Chief Minister's Private Secretary KK Ragesh, does not have enough teaching experience. Justice Devan Ramachandran said while considering the petition challenging the appointment of Priya Varghese that the UGC guidelines cannot be overridden. The court also directed Kannur University to review the rank list, as per which Priya Varghese was appointed as Associate Professor in the Malayalam department.

The Kerala High Court also criticized the Facebook post of Priya Varghese, wife of Chief Minister's Private Secretary KK Ragesh, which was a veiled dig at the judge's remark. The court said that teachers should be among the best people in society. "Those who haven't worked as teachers cannot be considered as having teaching experience. Continuous teaching experience is required for the post of associate professor", the court added. He also asked if Priya got any teaching experience during the research period.

"Teachers are nation builders. Teachers should be among the best people in society. Unpleasant things are happening. I don't remember saying anything about digging a ditch. Many things will be said as part of the court case. What happened in court should end there. One would have done many things while working for NSS. The court checked whether it can be considered teaching experience. Many things will be said in the court during the hearing which may not be understood by the public. The parties should not view the court as an enemy. The court respects the activities of NSS. Priya was the only one who raised the argument that the plea won't stand. Even the university has not accepted this.", the judge said.

The second ranker, Prof. Joseph Skaria, approached the High Court claiming that Priya Varghese was placed first in the rank list in violation of the UGC rules and demanded that Priya Varghese be removed from the list. The High Court had earlier clarified that the appointment of Priya Varghese can be proceeded only as per the UGC rules.

Beginning of controversy

Priya Varghese, a teacher at Thrissur Kerala Varma College, was interviewed and given first rank last November just before the extension of Kannur VC's tenure in a controversial manner. Then the postponed rank list was recently accepted by the syndicate and the appointment was given. After this, the Save University Campaign Committee filed a complaint with the Governor to cancel Priya's appointment as she had no teaching experience of eight years as per UGC rules.

The complaint given to the governor was that Priya Varghese, who has only three years of service in Kerala Varma College, added the two years she worked as NSS coordinator in Kannur University and the three years she worked as an assistant professor on contractual basis as teaching experience. According to the complaint, the UGC provision states that the period of three years spent on research studies should not be counted as teaching experience for direct recruitment.

Petition in High Court

Priya Varghese was given the first rank bypassing Joseph Scaria, a teacher of Changanassery SB College, who has a quarter of a century of teaching experience and over a hundred research papers, and two teachers of the Malayalam University. Joseph Scaria approached the High Court against this.

Priya has only five years and five days of experience. The petitioner's contention is that Priya has gone for PhD studies and has gone on deputation as a director of students, and these are being considered as a teaching experience for appointment.

Priya Varghese's argument is that PhD studies and deputation period can be considered as teaching experience. It is also said in the petition that she was NSS co-ordinator when she was in the position of director of students.

However, the period can be considered as teaching experience only if research is done along with teaching. Priya's research period does not coincide with her teaching experience. The UGC has informed the High Court that there is doubt regarding the attendance of Ph.D.

The High Court had severely criticized Priya Varghese on Wednesday while hearing the petition. The criticism was that digging a ditch as part of the National Service Scheme cannot be considered as teaching experience for the appointment as Associate Professor.

Five questions of the High Court that stumbled Priya

1- Was there a direction to teach during deputation period?

2- How does holding the position of Director of Students become a teaching experience?

3- Was the position as NSS coordinator revealed only now?

4- Was sufficient qualification information provided with the application?

5- What is the point of telling the court the information that was not given to the scrutiny committee?

Today's High Court verdict is very crucial not only for Priya Varghese but also for the state government. If the verdict is favourable, it will be a blow to the government amid allegations of VC appointment. Otherwise, it will be a weapon for the opposition against the government. And Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will get one more chance to argue that all his arguments are correct.

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had stated yesterday that there is no confrontation with the state government, but he will not yield to pressure. "Universities will not be allowed to become party departments. There are specific rules for their implementation. It is the law of the land. Not the law of individuals. The Supreme Court and the High Court have clarified this. This applies to everyone.", the Governor said.