Mahatma Gandhi University Syndicate defers decision on controversial issues

KOCHI: The MG University Syndicate which met on Friday deferred decisions on transferring funds to the newly formed society to control self-financing institutions once managed by it and also on by-transfer appointments to assistants post. This move is due to growing protests from employees and also the PSC rank-holders association. The rank holders are agitated over the decision to give by-transfer appointments to five last grade staff to the assistant grade while the Syndicate was set to consider more such appointments.

They have petitioned the Governor over it and the latter has also sought an explanation from the university in this regard. PSC had also also made it clear that such appointments should not be done after the appointments were transferred to the PSC on February 26, 2016. In a similar instance, Kerala High Court decision is pending on such appointments to such posts after February 26 in the Kerala Agricultural University even though the Statute of KAU permits by-transfer appointments.

The University Synd-icate was also mulling giving Rs 50 crore from the MGU funds to the newly formed co-operative society to run the self-financing institutions once controlled by it. However, this is being postponed due to stiff protests by staff. Even though a senior finance department official attended the Syndicate meet, it decided to explore the possibilities of getting more non-plan funds from the government.