Thesis over, Kerala University to decide on eligibility

Thiruvananthapuram: The Syndicate Committee on Academics and Research will examine whether a doctorate in music can be conferred on Achuthsankar S. Nair, head of the department of computational biology and bioinformatics.

The syndicate meeting held earlier had found that Mr Nair did not have post-graduation in music to be eligible for PhD.

Mr Nair holds an MTech degree in electronics. The committee will take a final decision on the matter, sources said.

The contention was over the interpretation of the wording of provisions of the Section ‘Faculty of Fine Arts’ on awarding of a PhD degree of Kerala University First Statutes of 1977.

It says the doctoral degree can be given "to persons holding the master's degree under any faculty of this university or of any other recognised university on the results of research work extending over a period of not less than three years after passing the examination qualifying them for the degree of Master of Arts, as embodied in a thesis relating to a subject coming under the purview of the faculty."

A section of students had agitated against giving a second PhD to Mr Nair saying he did not have a formal music degree. It should be recalled that the opposition had only surfaced after he submitted his PhD thesis on Swathi Thirunal and also attended the open defence.

When students protested, he posted on the Facebook: “In the event of the Syndicate deciding against my award of a PhD in music and the appropriate court of law upholding the same decision, I assure the students that I shall withdraw to teaching alone and resign all other positions I hold, both within and outside the university. So if you are right now, you will win finally. I request you to consider my offer and resume academics.”