HC directs Kerala varsity V-C to appear before it

KOCHI

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed Mohan Kunnummal, Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University, to appear before it in person on March 11 in a petition that sought to initiate contempt proceedings against him for allegedly failing to implement the university Syndicate’s decision to reinstate K.S. Anilkumar as Registrar of the university.

Stating that a judgment of the High Court cannot be kept in cold storage by the Vice-Chancellor indefinitely, the court sought immediate action. A perusal of the minutes of the Syndicate shows that the Vice-Chancellor was objecting to the Syndicate’s decision. This itself prima facie shows that he committed contempt, said a Bench of Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan, adding that his appearance would be dispensed with, if the court’s directives were complied with, or if the order was modified.

The court issued the directive on a contempt petition filed by Mr. Anil Kumar, who had been suspended by the Vice-Chancellor. The court had held that the decision taken by the Syndicate to revoke the suspension and reinstate the Registrar will necessarily be binding on the Vice-Chancellor and he will have to give effect to it, subject to the powers of the Chancellor.

Mr. Anilkumar contended that the Vice-Chancellor was not agreeing with the Syndicate’s decision, stating that it is in violation of the Kerala University First Statutes, 1977. Mr. Kunnummal submitted that the matter was placed before the Chancellor and that a decision was awaited.