The Kothamangalam diocese of Kerala’s Catholic Church has decided to reinstate TJ Joseph, the professor whose right hand was chopped-off by the Muslim extremists in July 2010, for preparing a question paper that allegedly blasphemed Prophet Muhammad, in the Newman’s College in Thodupuzha. It runs before March 31, the due date of his formal retirement.
Joseph’s wife, Salomi (48), had committed suicide on March 19, out of anxiety and depression caused by reports that the Church-run college management was unlikely to reinstate him which could lead to loss of all his retirement benefits. The management had sacked Joseph on September 1, 2010 for preparing the “controversial” question paper.
The diocese took the decision to reinstate Joseph in service late on Saturday following intense protests, including even from within the Church, against its alleged cruelty which had led to the suicide of his wife.
Referring to Joseph’s dismissal, his relative John Peruvanthanam said, “The extremists cut his hand and the Church ‘slit’ his throat.” As per the diocese’s decision which it said was taken purely on humanitarian grounds, Joseph would be taken back in service before March 31, most probably on March 28, so that he could go into retirement with full benefits.
It said the decision would be dependent on the clearance from the Government and the Mahatma Gandhi University to which the college was affiliated. The diocese has asked Joseph to call on Kothamangalam Bishop Mar George Madathikkandathil on Monday morning. “I am relieved at the decision but myself and the members of my family are extremely sad that my wife Salomi is not among us to share that relief,” Joseph said.
After Salomi’s death, even senior priests from within the Catholic Church had objected to the diocese’s conduct over the issue apart from the intense protests from the general public. According to Peruvanthanam, an environmentalist, “The diocese was not reinstating Joseph thinking that it would have to pay out of its pocket the retirement benefits for Joseph.”
“The decision the diocese has now taken is indeed a good one. But it is a pity that it needed to see the death of a poor woman, a mother of two children, to come to this decision. I don’t know how the fathers (priests) are going to wash away that taint from their minds,” said Nirmala, a neighbor of Joseph in Muvattupuzha.
Muslim Extremist belonging to the Popular Front of India and its political wing SDPI had chopped off the right hand of the professor for preparing the controversial question paper on the morning of July 4, 2010 at Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district when he was returning home with his family after attending Sunday Mass at the local church.
less than two months later, the Newman’s College management sacked him for the same act which, according to the Church, had hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community. Despite the repeated requests from eminent personalities, including then State Education minister MA Baby, the management refused to review its decision.
last year, a court had exonerated Joseph in the case pertaining to the issue of the question paper after finding that there was nothing blasphemous in it. This led to the renewal of the request for reinstating him but the Church refused to comply.