KOCHI: The Kerala State Audit Department has come out with a damning report on the appointments at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) finding several serious irregularities during the 2013-14, when Prof B. Madhusoodana Kurup was the vice-chancellor. It says that reservation norms were violated and people whose applications were rejected by the screening committee for appointments got first rank in the ranklist and found placement as well while favourable verdicts were secured from the Kerala High Court by misleading the court.
The audit department also finds that though the appointment authority for teachers at the varsity is senate, from the process of identifying posts to appointments, it never intervened. Because of inappropriate legal advice, the UGC norms on reservation were not adhered to. The government was not consulted on reservation norms.
It was also found that university controller of examinations who is an expert in statistics was appointed as subject expert in the committee for the selection fisheries faculty. Though this committee headed by Dr V. Ambili Kumar expressed its inability to select the candidates due to the lack of experience of committee members in the relevant field and suggested examination by experts, this committee was allowed to continue and no examination by experts happened.
The appointment took place without stipulating basic qualifications for each post. The academic council has to specify qualifications. Blossom K.L's application was rejected by the screening committee for the assistant professor's post in the food science and nutrition department because she didn't have PG in the relevant subject. However, Ms Blossom was later figured as first rank holder in the ranklist which was approved by the Governing Council of the varsity and she got placement and continues in service now, the audit report notes.
This points to gross irregularities in the appointments. More candidates whose applications were rejected, were called for the interview, and found a place in the ranklist, the report finds. The audit report has also raised objection to the appointment of Dr K. Renjith to the associate professor post, who, as per records, does not have the necessary eight years' experience. Teachers on contract were appointed in committees for appointments. The qualifications of teachers have to be stipulated by the academic council but at KUFOS this was done by scrutiny committee. For appointments, neither prior government permission nor senate's approval was obtained.
