Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday ordered the Vijayan government to release the retirement and pension benefits of Ciza Thomas, former Vice Chancellor of Kerala Technological University (KTU), within two weeks.
A division bench led by Justice Mustaq Mohammed directed the Pinarayi Vijayan administration to disburse Thomas' benefits, noting that disciplinary proceedings against her began on the day of her retirement from KTU on March 31, 2023.
Thomas currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology.
Thomas' troubles began in November 2022 when, while serving as senior joint director at the Technical Education Department, she assumed the additional role of Vice Chancellor of Kerala Technological University (KTU) under the directions of then-Chancellor, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.
At the time, tensions ran high between Governor Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The division bench criticised the state government for failing to provide Thomas with her retirement and pension benefits.
Earlier, a single bench of the Kerala High Court had strongly rebuked Sankaracharya University for denying fellowship to a research student.
The court pointed out that when the vice-chancellor of the university is being paid a salary regularly, there is no reason for the non-payment of the petitioner's fellowship.
"If the Vice Chancellor of the University is being paid a salary regularly, there can be no justification for non-payment of the petitioner's fellowship," said Justice D. K. Singh.
The ruling came as the court examined a case filed by a PhD fellow at Sankaracharya University of Kalady, who was denied his sanctioned fellowship amount.
The university cited financial constraints as the reason for withholding the funds.
However, the Court, displeased with the justification, ordered the university to settle the fellowship arrears within a month.
Additionally, it directed that the vice chancellor's and registrar's salaries be withheld until the petitioner's dues were paid.
(inputs from IANS)