KOCHI: The new Vice-Chancellor of the MG University, Dr Babu Sebastian, has landed in a controversy by riding over the powers of the varsity Syndicate in the probe into the qualifications of registrar M R Unni.
Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb had forwarded the complaint that Unni did not have required qualification to continue in the post of registrar, to the University. Subsequently, the varsity Syndicate had appointed a three-member inquiry committee which submitted a report with the finding that Unni did not have the required experience conforming to university notification and he had fudged certificates. The Syndicate after detailed deliberations has accepted this report and authorized an advocate of Kerala High Court to make a detailed inquiry into it.
While the proceedings were going on, a section of the Syndicate members has demanded that the inquiry be shelved, but the Syndicate had decided against it. It also has decided that no fresh cases be slapped against Unni.
Soon after assuming the office of the VC, Dr Babu Sebastian decided to withdraw the inquiry against Unni, which university sources said violated rules. According to the statute of the university, the Syndicate alone is authorized to take action against its officials. The VC has not convened the meeting of the Syndicate so far and the first meet of the body is scheduled for Monday.
Dr Babu Sebastian is already dogged by controversies over allegations that he doesn’t have required qualifications to be VC and his order of appointment was issued by former Governor Sheila Dikshit after submitting her resignation from the post. The new Governor has been petitioned in this regard and moves are also on to approach the High Court.
