Kerala University VC Misused His Powers: Higher Education Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Higher Education Minister R. Bindu on Thursday said that Kerala University vice chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal had misused his authority by suspending the Registrar KS Anil Kumar for his action, cancelling permission for a programme attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the senate hall on June 25.
“Anil Kumar can continue in office as only the university Syndicate has the power to take action against the registrar,” the minister told reporters. She said the VC acted beyond his legal powers in issuing the suspension.
The minister also stated that the registrar had not violated any rule by cancelling the event, which had featured an image of 'Bharat Mata', a symbol associated with the RSS. She added that it was the Governor who acted in violation of university statutes by attending a programme that had been officially cancelled by the registrar. She further criticised the Governor for promoting RSS imagery within the Raj Bhavan.
General Education Minister V. Sivankutty also criticised the VC, stating he was “acting like a goon of the Governor.” He said, “It was not the registrar, but the Governor who disrespected the university’s statutes by attending a programme that had been cancelled.”
Sivankutty pointed out that the powers of the Governor are limited under the Constitution, and referred to recent Supreme Court observations which cautioned Governors against exceeding their constitutional role.
The minister noted that the practice of using Governors to challenge state governments has become common since the BJP came to power at the Centre.