The administrative stalemate at Kerala University shows no signs of resolution, despite mediation attempts by various quarters including Higher Education Minister R. Bindu.

Vice-Chancellor in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal has yet to convene a Syndicate meeting as demanded by Left-backed Syndicate members. Besides, tensions have further escalated following the disciplinary action initiated against Joint Registrar P. Harikumar two days ago, which is feared to derail the ongoing efforts to reach a consensus.

Dr. Kunnummal issued a show-cause notice to Mr. Harikumar for issuing an official order that revoked the suspension of Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar and subsequently circulating the directive across university departments. The Vice-Chancellor has maintained that the Syndicate decision to withdraw the Registrar’s suspension lacks legal validity. Mr. Harikumar has been given 15 days to respond to the notice.

A section of Syndicate members has accused the Vice-Chancellor of deliberately stalling the Syndicate meeting to evade scrutiny. University regulations mandate that such meetings must be held at least once every 60 day, they claim. With the last meeting held on May 27, the deadline for the next meeting is July 27. They had submitted a formal request to convene the meeting on July 18.

Meanwhile, the Raj Bhavan has summoned Director (Planning and Development) Mini Dejo Kappen, who has been assigned additional charge of the Registrar, to provide details regarding a controversy over grace mark allocation related to last year’s Kerala University Union Youth Festival.

Dr. Kappen has been directed to appear before the Governor on July 26, and present score sheets and other related documents submitted by the festival’s judging panel.

The Governor, as the Chancellor of the university, has been named a respondent in a court case filed by a group of students, necessitating the submission of a counter affidavit.

The issue arose after the Vice-Chancellor refused to approve the festival organisers’ decision to declare multiple groups as winners in some group events. This approach was allegedly adopted to extend the grace mark benefits to a larger number of students.

Various quarters interpret the Governor’s summoning of Dr. Kappen as tacit acknowledgement of the legitimacy of Dr. Kumar’s suspension.