VC-syndicate rift set to widen further

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The rift between Kerala University vice-chancellor and elected members in the university syndicate is set to widen further as the former has constituted all syndicate standing committees overlooking the syndicate's rights.
According to sources, vice-chancellor P K Radhakrishnan has constituted nine syndicate standing committees last week, using the 10:13 provision in the university act that gives the vice-chancellor powers to take decisions when the syndicate is not in session.
However, the syndicate members argue that the application of the very provision could be done only during exigencies and such decisions are to be reported to the syndicate for its approval. They have argues that the VC cannot claim any exigency in the formation of the syndicate.
"The vice-chancellor's decision is highly undemocratic and is a misinterpretation of the university act. The 10:13 provision in the act is normally applied only to avoid administrative and academic impasses. Formation of standing committees is the right of the syndicate. The constitution of standing committees by the VC himself is a glaring intrusion into the rights of the democratically elected members of the syndicate,'' former finance standing committee chairman and syndicate member Jyothikumar Chamakkala said.
Of the 14 elected members in the syndicate, nine are UDF representatives and the rest belong to the LDF camp.
According to sources, the VC, while constituting the standing committees on his own, preferred the nominated members to head the important syndicate standing committees.
While a nominated representative of the state higher education council in the university syndicate was appointed as the convenor of standing committee on affiliation of colleges, another government nominated member Rosamma Philip was made the finance standing committee convenor.
While none of the elected UDF members in the syndicate were chosen to head any crucial standing committee, LDF member R Mohanakrishnan was made the convenor of a crucial standing committee on teaching and non-teaching staff of private colleges.
As per the university act, the syndicate should meet at least once in two months. But in KU, the syndicate used to meet every month.
Though the syndicate comprising of nominated members met thrice in January, a regular meeting of the syndicate is yet to be convened after the election to the syndicate was over in February.
According to sources, the inordinate delay in convening the regular syndicate meeting has started affecting the administrative and academic activities of the university, including the awarding of PhDs to eligible candidates.
INFO
Last regular syndicate meeting: April 16, 2014
Senate election: May 16, 2014
Syndicate election: February 5, 2015
Elected members in Syndicate: 14
Nominated members in Syndicate: 12