Bharatamba row: Kerala University registrar reinstated without VC's approval

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala University on Sunday witnessed some dramatic developments with registrar K S Anil Kumar, who was placed under suspension on charges of insulting the Governor over the Bharatamba row, being reinstated by the syndicate without the approval of the vice-chancellor.

Anil Kumar soon resumed the charge of the registrar.

The drama unfolded at an emergency syndicate meeting convened by the vice-chancellor in-charge Ciza Thomas to prepare the statement to be given at the Kerala High Court which is scheduled to consider on Monday the petition against the registrar's suspension.

Anil Kumar was placed under suspension on July 2 by university vice chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal on charges of causing disrespect to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar by cancelling a function that the Governor was attending at the university senate hall. Protests by pro-CPI(M) and pro-Congress activists over the use of Bharatamba picture at the function had led to the cancellation.

Since Kunnammal went aboard afterwards, Ciza Thomas was given charge of vice-chancellor by the Governor. Anil Kumar approached the court against the suspension.

During the syndicate meeting on Sunday, the pro-left syndicate members demanded that Anil Kumar's suspension should be revoked. Ciza Thomas subsequently went out of the meeting. Afterward the syndicate members decided to revoke the registrar's suspension. Later, Anil Kumar reached the university and resumed service as registrar.

However, the vice chancellor in-charge said that since she went out of the syndicate meeting after dissolving the meeting there won't be any validity for decisions taken afterwards.

The pro-left syndicate members said that the official stand of the university will be the stand of the syndicate.

The ongoing row in sequel to the friction between the Governor and the left-front government over placing a picture of Bharatamba with saffron flag at official functions at Raj Bhavan. Left parties and Congress allege that the image of Bharatamba used by Raj Bhavan is one used by RSS.