Party supporters stage strike, threaten first rank holder to appoint former SFI leader as guest lecturer in Kerala Varma College

Monday 21 November, 2022 | 6:52 AM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

THRISSUR: Party supporters staged strike, even threatened first rank holder on phone to appoint former SFI leader as guest lecturer in Kerala Varma College under Cochin Devaswom Board.

In the appointment of Guest Lecturer in Political Science, the pressure was to give the first rank to the second ranked SFI leader who did not answer the interview questions. Initially the first rank holder woman recevied requests on the phone not to come and then it became threats. Some teachers also came forward for the leader. The head of the department also agreed not to sign the rank list. Subject expert Dr Jewell John Allapat had raised a complaint on the matter. A principal commission was appointed on the instructions of the higher education department officials to investigate it. Further action will be taken according to the report of this commission.

Meanwhile, SFI started a strike demanding the appointment of a guest teacher. The departments were brought to a standstill and pushed into a teacher meeting. In the meantime, the teachers called the first-ranked girl to see if she would be able to work and it is reported that she became a guest teacher in another college. Cochin Devaswom Board representatives and teacher-student representatives met today and decided to speed up the process.

The list kept under wraps for months

Interview was held on May 28. Principal, Head of Political Science, subject expert Dr Jewel John Alappat and another teacher were on the panel. As the list was not released even after four months, Dr. Jewell John lodged a complaint with the Vice Chancellor, Cochin Devaswom Board President and Principal in September. The complaint was that the head of the department was not ready to sign as the SFI leader did not get the first rank. It was only later that a WhatsApp chat of the top ranked candidate surfaced in which she received constant phone calls and was under pressure to withdraw.