By Najiya O, TwoCircles.net,
Kochi: The Syndicate of the Calicut University dismissed the registrar Dr PP Muhammed. The dismissal followed the registrar’s refusal to agree to the Syndicate direction of compulsory retirement. However the registrar has decided to fight against the decision.
“I will approach the court,” said Dr PP Muhammed. “This is a pure political move of the communist party (CPI M). This is part of the anti-Muslim acts of the LDF Government. They want to install somebody who obeys them in the post of the registrar. I will fight against this.”
Mr Muhammed has been under suspension for various reasons since 2007. Adv CH Ashiq, member of the Syndicate, said that Mr Muhammed was dismissed because of his unsatisfactory explanations regarding the allegations against him.
The Aikya Samara Samithi (united protest committee) formed in the University to protest against the injustice meted out to Dr PP Muhammed has decided to begin a ‘relay fast satyagraha’ from 24th onwards. “This is a clear example of the anti-minority attitude of the LDF government,” said TJ Martin, convener of the Aikya Samara Samithi. “The left government is moving against minorities and their institutions. They cancelled the affiliations of some colleges run by Christian managements. This will destroy the very nature and academic quality of the university.” He added that the relay satyagraha was to protest against the dismissal of the registrar as well to protest against the political moves against the lecturers.
“The left government has always turned against Muslims in high positions, and this too is a part of this LDF agenda,” said Abdurahman, president of the Calicut University Solidarity Union of Employees. “However, we protest against this injustice bringing together all groups of people. There are five service organizations in the Aikya Samara Samithi formed to protest against this injustice.”
Dr PP Muhammed was appointed the registrar of the Calicut University in 2003 when Dr Iqbal Hasnain was the vice-Chancellor. Mr Muhammed was a lecturer in Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, and came to Calicut University as a nominee of the Muslim League.
Moves against the registrar began in the university when the Syndicate came to be controlled by the leftists, reportedly. The various accusations against Mr Muhammed are failure to provide the answer key of Assistant Grade Exam to the LBS, failure to provide enough financial help to the student who was suffering from cancer, misuse of vehicles, appointing disqualified people as lecturers, etc. He was then suspended in 2007 July.
The Syndicate appointed a commission former retired Vigilance Tribunal KD Babu to enquire into the matter. Spending almost Rs 2 lakhs for the enquiry, the Commission reported that the allegations were true. The Syndicate then asked the registrar for a compulsory retirement as per the findings of the commission. However, the registrar has vowed not to go with the syndicate directions.