Dispute over promotion issue leads to face-off between V-C and Left members at KU Syndicate meet

A special Syndicate meeting held at Kerala University (KU) on Monday to discuss the Governor's show-cause notice regarding a controversial promotion turned chaotic as the Left-backed members engaged in heated exchanges with Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) Mohanan Kunnummal.
The row centres around the promotion of Syndicate member S. Nazeeb, who is also the general secretary of the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA).
Dr. Nazeeb, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kerala Studies, had earlier petitioned the Syndicate to have his nearly-18-month period of contract service at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit counted towards his Career Advancement Scheme as 'past service' for promotion as Associate Professor.
At a Syndicate meeting in November last, the Vice-Chancellor had refused to issue implementing orders for a decision to promote Dr. Nazeeb, citing that his past experience did not meet the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms. The matter was later referred to the Governor for review. While Dr. Nazeeb had approached the Kerala High Court against the Vice-Chancellor's alleged inaction, the court directed the issue to be decided by the Governor.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]-backed Syndicate members on Monday rejected the Governor's objections and maintained that the Syndicate decision should stand. Tension escalated when a futile attempt was made to pass a resolution against the Vice-Chancellor. BJP-backed members opposed the Syndicate's move, arguing that the promotion would violate the UGC guidelines.

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