The stand off between Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Kerala and the CPI(M) led State Government has reached a flash point by Monday as the former has expressed his displeasure over the goings in the institutions of higher learning in the State.
The Governor, who is also the chancellor of the Universities in the State is upset over the callous attitude shown by Gopinath Ravindran, vice-chancellor of Kannur University for ignoring the letter from Raj Bhavan seeking explanation over the appointment of the wife of K K Ragesh, a CPI(M) leader who is also the private secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Priya Varghese, wife of Raagesh, was appointed as assistant professor, in violation of all norms and the Governor had asked the vice-chancellor to explain how norms were violated in her appointment. “Though the Governor had given ten days time to the vice-chancellor to submit his explanation, the latter preferred to ignore the directive. This has upset the Governor and he is sure to initiate disciplinary action against the vice-chancellor, who is also a CPI(M) activist,” said sources close to the Governor.The source who did not want to identify himself, said the Governor has taken note of the complaints against such appointments seriously. This is not the first instance when the relatives and associates of CPI(M) leaders have been appointed in all the universities in the State violating all basic norms,” said the source.
He also said that the Governor is convinced that the vice-chancellor has committed serious violation of the law of the land and nepotism in the appointments. “The situation in Kannur University is similar to the phenomenon of the fence installed to save the crop itself is eating the crop. The Governor feels that this is blatant violation of all laws and can never be ignored’” the source said.