Syndicate or selection panel, who decides?

Updated on: Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Kerala University administration is mired in controversies and is being constantly dragged into courts.

After the posting of university assistants took an ugly course with the Lok Ayukta's observation about the appointments, it is the turn of the post of controller of exams to enter into a legal tangle.

After the university syndicate vetoed the appointment of the candidate nominated by the selection committee headed by the vice-chancellor, the high court stayed the proceedings as the candidate approached the court.

This new development will force the university wait further for the new controller of exams at a time when exams are round the corner. The post has remained vacant since March 2011.

"There are multiple opinions in this matter. The candidate selected by the committee will have an edge if he can convince the court that he had been selected by a committee that has representation from the syndicate. At the same time, syndicate can argue that it is the sole deciding authority even if a candidate has been selected by the committee," sources in the university said.

Syndicate members argue that the selection committee only has the power to nominate and that the final decision rests with the syndicate, which has to ratify an appointment.

The three-member selection committee comprising vice-chancellor A Jayakrishnan and two other syndicate members had nominated K Madhu Kumar as the controller of exams. The syndicate struck down the nomination by 10 votes to eight.

Syndicate members irrespective of political affiliations, had joined hands to veto the appointment alleging that the candidate did not have the required qualification.

Interestingly, those who voted against the selection committee's nominee also included UDF members who, according to sources, had acted upon the directive from the education minister's office, which was looking for a Muslim candidate.

And with the court staying further proceedings, the university's plan to re-notify the post will also have to be shelved for the time being.

It will now have to wait till the high court clears Madhu Kumar's petition, which may take months. Till then, College Development Council director M Jayaprakash will continue to hold the additional charge of the controller of examinations.

Times of India

Syndicate or selection panel, who decides?

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