Human Rights panel pulls up Kerala Law Academy Law College

Thiruvananthapuram: While a sub-committee of the Kerala University syndicate began an inquiry into the complaints against Law Academy Law College here, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission sought a report from the government and the academy on the ongoing issues. The nine-member syndicate sub-committee members led by  convenor Rajesh Kumar visited the college on Monday and collected statements from about 70 students and 20 parents on various allegations against the academy.

Sources said that the students stuck to their allegations of harassment by the college authorities and the sub-committee found that most of the complaints were prima facie true. The charges pertained to harassment and favouritism in the name of internal assessment. Some of the students even produced audio records of abusive conversation allegedly by the academy principal Lakshmi Nair.

“The committee came across serious allegations against the college management, including deliberately preventing students from appearing for exams. Many students had given signed statements,” said sources. The committee will submit a report to the syndicate on January 28. Meanwhile,  academy director Narayanan Nair said that there was no question of removing Lakshmi Nair from the principal’s post. He also said that the allegations against the academy were being raised by "external forces with vested interests."

Acting on a set of complaints from students and parents, the Human Rights Commission acting chairperson P. Mohanadas directed the higher education secretary and academy principal to give a report within two weeks on the ongoing stir at the academy. A statement from the commission said that the stir had been unresolved even after two weeks owing to the stubborn stand of the college authorities. A series of complaints, including insulting of students hailing from backward communities and harassment of students for internal assessment, were received, said the statement.