NEW DELHI, Nov 17: In yet another setback to the leftist government in Kerala, the Kerala High Court on Thursday asked the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government to reconsider the appointment of Priya Varghese stating that she did not possess sufficient teaching experience to be appointed as associate professor of Malayalam at the Kannur University.
Vijayan government is currently engaged in tussle with the Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan over the functioning of Universities and appointments of vice-chancellors and other faculty members in the universities in the state.
Priya Varghese is the wife of the Chief Minister’s private secretary KK Ragesh. The governor had cancelled her appointment, citing nepotism.
The High Court asked for the appointment to be re-examined as it is not in keeping with University Grants Commission norms.
The court said a teaching experience of eight years is needed to apply for the post of associate professor and her teaching experience falls short. The court also questioned how the University’s scrutiny committee had overlooked that.
Priya Varghese had conceded that she did not teach when she was pursuing her PhD. Responding to the court verdict today, she said: “I accept the court verdict… Will decide on how to move ahead after deciding with legal experts.” The petition challenging her appointment was filed by Dr Joseph Scaria, an assistant professor from Changanassery, who was put second on the list.
Three days ago, the Kerala High Court had cancelled the state government’s appointment of a vice-chancellor at a state university.
Mr Vijayan’s government, engaged in a tussle with the Governor is trying to remove him as the Chancellor in various state universities. Mr Khan has said every issue would be decided on individual merits and decisions would be taken on the basis of the Constitution.
“I am not going to interfere in the business of the government. I am not going to interfere unless there is total collapse of the constitutional machinery. Fortunately, that situation does not prevail in Kerala,” Mr Khan had said.
BJP spokesperson E Krishna Dass said, “This verdict is a tight slap on the CPM who has been supporting the appointment of Priya Varghese as an associate professor.” The verdict, he said, was a “turning point in the ongoing face-off between the Governor and the government.”
(Manas Dasgupta)