By TwoCircles.net staff correspondent,
Kozhikode: Two weeks after dismissing the registrar, the Calicut University syndicate yesterday dismissed eight of the teaching staff amid widespread protests. The decision was taken at the emergency meeting of the Syndicate held yesterday, alleging irregularities in the selection of lecturers during the time of the former Vice-Chancellor.
The Syndicate took the decision when service organizations and Malappuram district UDF were protesting in front of the administrative office. This is the first time that the university is dismissing this much lecturers at a time. The Syndicate also agreed to the dismissal of the registrar. The registrar Dr PP Muhammed was dismissed on August 17 by the Syndicate.
All the eight dismissed were appointed when Dr Iqbal Hasnain was the VC during 2003-06 period. They are Dr Y Shibuvardhan, Dr KV Lasar and Dr VM Kannan, readers in the department of zoology, Dr P Raveendran and Dr AI Yahya, readers in the department of Chemistry, and Dr CD Sebastian, Dr EM Manojam and Dr KC Chithra, lecturers. They were appointed by the selection committee as per the rules of the university.
Forty-three were appointed as teachers in the university during the time 2003-06. The left syndicate which came to power afterwards found irregularities in the appointment of 32 of the 43. However, the Syndicate has taken action against only these eight, leaving the rest. It is reported that they were exempted as they had membership in some pro-LDF unions.
Moves against the teachers came up when the LDF got majority in the syndicate in 2006-07. Those who had not got appointed approached the court alleging irregularities in appointment. They approached the LDF-led syndicate also. The syndicate then entrusted a sub-committee comprising of KP Jamardhanan, Krishnan Karangad and CP Aboobaker to enquire into the matter. They reported that irregularities were involved in 32 out of the 43 appointments. The teachers were then sent show-cause notice.
The eight teachers complained to the Governor questioning the syndicate act. Meanwhile, the High Court directed the university to carry on with the procedure as per the decision of the Chancellor. The syndicate has now suspended the teachers without waiting for the decision of the governor/ Chancellor.
The UDF members in the syndicate opposed the decision tooth and nail. Their arguments were not considered. Five service organizations in the university have jointly formed the Aikya Samara Samithi (united committee for protest) to protest against the dismissal of the registrar and the moves against the teaching staff based solely on political reasons.
The leader of the Samara Samithi had earlier told the TCN that the dismissal of the registrar was an example for the anti-minority moves of the LDF. The Samithi has begun a relay satyagraha in the university campus as a mark of protest.