Silence is rule at Central University of Kerala

Kasargod: Central University of Kerala (CUK) has become a centre of regimentation and control rather than an academic institution, allege teachers and students here.

The authorities invoked the central service rules to suppress free speech and expression, they say, and students are scared of arrest, suspension and dismissal.

"CUK is the laboratory to experiment Sangh Parivar agenda in Kerala. They want to silence all the dissenting voices," said a teacher, who pleaded anonymity.

After the arrest of Dalit PhD scholar G. Nagaraju on a trivial reason of breaking the windowpane of the fire extinguisher at his hostel, the latest is the suspension of Dr Prasad Pannian as the head of the department of English and comparative literature. Before that, a student, Akhil Thazath, was expelled.

The reason cited in the case of Dr Pannian was that he criticised the university on the Facebook over the arrest of Mr Nagaraju.

"The administrators have done several unkindest and criminal things more than my expulsion," he said.

"They have fired 15 poor mess people to cover up the violations of UGC guidelines. Hostel caretaker was unilaterally fired. More than 40 people are working on contract in offices against the UGC norms. These are all BJP-RSS recruits. A criminal BJP leader has been employed in security," alleges Mr Akhil in his FB post.

He was expelled on the ground that he hurled abusive language at VC.

The university has cut salary increment of Gilbert Sebastian, an assistant professor, for the previous two years and permanently denied another two years for the 'crime' of directly writing to VC expressing concern over the termination of a faculty member.

However, High Court stayed that order.

The University administrators allegedly split CUKTA (Central University of Kerala Teachers' Association), and the majority joined the new union, ACUKT (Association of Central University of Kerala Teachers').

"All the ambitious teachers on probation joined ACUKT. Many leftist teachers joined the new union fearing revenge," said a teacher. The university has not recognised CUKTA.

They point fingers at pro-VC Dr K. Jayaprasad for all the "dictatorial acts." He is also the vice-president of the pro-BJP cultural organisation, Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram. Interestingly, when he was in charge of finance officer last year, Dr Pannain, in his capacity as chief vigilance officer, had recommended a CBI inquiry into the alleged corruption in the construction of a multipurpose hall as he didn't get files he sought from the finance officer. But on the next day, he was removed as the CVO.

Dr Jayaprasad denied all the allegations and blamed it on the drug mafia disturbed by the stringent implementation of rules. "The mafia is spreading lies through media as the law gets strictly implemented. Media is also spreading fake news," he told DC.

Meanwhile, students held a protest rally on the campus on Monday.