Kerala University VC suspends registrar over event attended by Governor

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala University Vice Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal has suspended Registrar K S Anil Kumar with immediate effect, following allegations that he issued a notice cancelling a private programme attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Senate Hall, where a portrait of Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag was displayed.

According to the order issued on Wednesday, the Registrar allegedly revoked the sanction granted to Sree Padmanabha Seva Samithi for using the University Senate Hall on June 25, after the programme had already commenced and while the Governor—who is also the Chancellor of the University—was on stage.

The Registrar denied the accusation, asserting that the notice was issued prior to the governor’s arrival and claiming to have evidence to support his version. He maintained that he acted appropriately and expressed his intention to legally challenge the vice chancellor's decision.

The vice chancellor’s move has drawn strong criticism from state higher education minister R Bindu, who accused Dr Kunnummal of "misusing his powers".

The minister emphasised that under the applicable law, the VC does not hold the authority to suspend the Registrar, since the Syndicate—the body that appointed the Registrar—retains that power.

She also alleged that Dr Kunnummal was appointed as acting vice chancellor only after pledging loyalty to the RSS and accused him of overstepping his mandate.

Members of the left-aligned syndicate echoed the minister’s view, contending that the vice chancellor lacks the authority to suspend the registrar and insisting that only the syndicate can take disciplinary measures against officials above the rank of deputy registrar.

Meanwhile, the issue triggered widespread protests, with SFI and DYFI activists holding separate marches to the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday night, raising slogans against the governor.

The police, with the assistance of the organisation's leaders, managed to bring the situation under control.

DYFI workers subsequently staged a sit-in protest, during which leaders accused the governor of attempting to transform Kerala University into a "saffron fort" through the vice chancellor—a reference to the alleged ideological influence of the RSS—and pledged to resist such moves. They further alleged that the governor was acting on instructions from the RSS karyalaya (headquarters).

Tensions escalated on June 25 at the Kerala University Senate campus, where activists from the Students Federation of India (SFI) clashed with police and staged a protest against the display of the Bharat Mata portrait at the event attended by the governor.

SFI activists engaged in heated arguments with both the event organisers—the Padmanabha Seva Samithi—and the police, demanding the immediate removal of the portrait from the Senate Hall. The protest intensified into a physical confrontation when SFI members attempted to forcibly enter the hall before the governor’s arrival.

Police eventually cleared the path, removing the protesters from the main entrance and ensuring the governor’s smooth access to the venue. As tensions rose, the university registrar reportedly intervened and revoked the organisers’ permission to hold the programme.

Although the organisers are said to have informed the Raj Bhavan about the development, the governor chose to proceed with attending the event despite the protests.

(inputs from PTI)