SUCC urges Governor to act against V-C over teacher recruitment issue

The Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) has written to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar seeking action against the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, for the alleged non-compliance with the directive of the Chancellor to put on hold the recruitment of Assistant Professors.

In a letter to the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of State universities, SUCC chairperson R.S. Sasikumar said the V-C, being the principal executive and academic authority of the university, was entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that all decisions were taken with fairness, independence, and due regard to established procedures. The V-C is also bound to faithfully implement the lawful directions of the Chancellor, the letter said.

The SUCC said the authorities were proceeding with faculty appointments despite the “adverse observations” by the government auditor on the disproportionate number of faculty members compared to the student intake. The varsity is already facing severe scarcity of funds.

Vice-Chancellor K.K. Geethakumary said she had acted on the basis of the decision taken at the Syndicate meeting on February 17 to go ahead with the recruitment of teachers. As directed by the Syndicate, documents and files related to the process were also submitted to the Chancellor, she said.

The Left-backed members of the Syndicate had observed that the Governor lacked the powers to put on hold the recruitment of faculty members as it remained with the Syndicate.