T’puram: Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has cancelled Kerala University syndicate’s decision to promote pro-CPM teachers’ union functionary S Naseeb as an associate professor, allegedly violating university and UGC norms. The syndicate’s decision to consider the contract appointment period of the candidate in Sanskrit University for the promotion had sparked controversy earlier.A special meeting of the university syndicate on May 5, convened to discuss the governor’s show-cause notice regarding the appointment, decided to ignore the notice and stick to the decision to promote the candidate. However, the university vice-chancellor (VC) Mohanan Kunnummal and opposition members in the syndicate opposed the move. Kunnummal pointed out that accepting the contract appointment period as teaching experience for promotion, contrary to UGC regulations, would necessitate a retrospective review of many current teachers’ promotions.Only previous teaching experience with a salary equivalent to the assistant professor position should be considered for promotion, according to the regulations, the VC pointed out. Naseeb’s temporary appointment at the Sanskrit University was at a salary lower than that of an assistant professor.Meanwhile, Naseeb approached the high court questioning the VC’s stance of not implementing the syndicate’s decision, but the court directed the governor to make a decision. Save University Campaign Committee alleged that the decision to lower the qualifications for the post of pro vice-chancellor (PVC) from professor to associate professor in the recently passed university amendment bill was to appoint Naseeb as PVC. Hence CPM members in the syndicate took a stand to bypass UGC regulations for promotion, the committee said. It also submitted a petition to the governor and VC requesting the prevention of Naseeb’s unauthorised promotion.Meanwhile, the state govt submitted a list of candidates to Raj Bhavan to be considered for appointment as interim VCs of Digital and Technological universities. The high court recently ruled that the appointment of interim VCs should be made from the list of candidates prepared by the state govt. Former governor Arif Mohammed Khan appointed Ciza Thomas and K Sivaprasad as the interim VCs of Digital and Technological universities respectively against the state govt’s preference.
