Chancellor annuls Kerala University Syndicate's promotion decision
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who also serves as the Chancellor of Kerala University, annulled a Syndicate decision to promote S. Nazeeb, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kerala Studies.
Dr. Nazeeb, who is also a Syndicate member, is the general secretary of the Left-leaning Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA).
An order issued by the Kerala Raj Bhavan found the decision to be in violation of University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.
The Syndicate had accepted Dr. Nazeeb's petition 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. The decision was made despite the opposition from Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) Mohanan Kunnummal.
A recent meeting of the Syndicate, convened to discuss a show-cause notice issued by the Chancellor on the issue, also maintained that there was no need to review its decision. The CPI(M)-backed members reportedly rejected the Chancellor's observations regarding the decision.
The particular issue has been a bone of contention that has escalated tensions between the Vice-Chancellor and the Left-backed Syndicate members for several months.
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