Sanskrit varsity dispute turns political as V-C digs in heels over student suspensions

When Nafeesath Misriya, the 21-year-old vice-chairperson of the college union of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam and an SFI leader, confronted Keralam Higher Education Minister Roji M John during a convocation ceremony on October 30 over the suspension of 16 students at Sree Shankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, a 63-day-old university agitation suddenly erupted into a major political controversy in Keralam.

The immediate fallout was the minister's walkout, followed by the UDF leaders in unison accusing the protesters of disrupting an academic function. Nafeesath, meanwhile, became the target of a cyber campaign, prompting her to approach the police. Nafeesathul Misriya, along with College Union Chairman Pranil Raj, has been placed under suspension for a period of 10 days pending an inquiry.

The incident has since escalated into a political confrontation, with the LDF accusing the UDF government of shielding the Governor-appointed Vice-Chancellor and accommodating the Sangh Parivar's agenda in higher education. The government has defended the university's autonomy, even as the V-C has approached the high court's Division Bench challenging the order allowing the suspended students to write their examinations. With the November 4 examinations approaching, the fate of the 16 students has become the immediate flashpoint in the widening dispute.

Protest, ‘funeral’, suspensions

The dispute dates back to August 13, when students organised protests on the Kalady campus highlighting what they described as the lack of basic academic facilities, inadequate teaching staff, delays in issuing certificates and other administrative shortcomings. Their demands included better infrastructure, drinking water facilities and the filling of vacant teaching positions.

As part of the agitation, students staged a street play and held a symbolic funeral of defunct equipment and other properties in the theatre department to highlight the lack of academic facilities. The university administration, however, interpreted it as a symbolic funeral of V-C Ciza Thomas. She alleged that students had manhandled her, hit her on the head and pulled her hair while she was leaving the campus after a syndicate meeting.

Also read: Keralam's Sanskrit varsity 'funeral' protest: Row over arrests, Governor's intervention

The university syndicate subsequently suspended 16 students on September 1, citing their alleged involvement in the incident. The suspension was initially intended to remain in force until the completion of an internal inquiry.

V-C wasn’t attacked: Inquiry panel member

The students, however, maintained that the disciplinary action was retaliatory and an attempt to suppress their agitation over legitimate academic concerns. They also questioned the basis of the allegations against them.

A significant development emerged when Dr Jinitha KS, a member of the university-appointed disciplinary inquiry committee, wrote to the syndicate disputing the allegation that the V-C had been attacked.

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"The allegation that the Vice-Chancellor was physically attacked by the students could not be established during the inquiry, and there was therefore no basis for disciplinary action against them," she wrote in her rejoinder, further accusing the V-C of overstepping her authority and encroaching on the powers of the inquiry committee.

Varsity challenges HC relief to students

The SFI has cited the letter to argue that the university is continuing the suspensions despite the absence of evidence supporting the allegation of an attack. The students have demanded that the suspensions be revoked and that they be allowed to resume their academic activities.

The dispute has since moved into the courts, with the immediate concern being the students' eligibility to appear for the semester examinations scheduled to begin on November 4.

Also read: How Keralam varsities are now caught in govt vs governor political contest

The suspended students approached the Kerala High Court after the university allegedly denied them access to the examination registration process and refused to accept their examination fees.

The single bench, presided over by Justice P V Kunhikrishnan, directed the university to facilitate the payment of examination fees and allow the suspended students to appear for the examinations pending the final decision on their suspension.

Students mull contempt case, hunger strike

Instead of implementing the order, the university administration, under Ciza Thomas, approached the Division Bench challenging the direction. The V-C has maintained that the students do not have the requisite attendance to appear for the examinations.

The university's position has further intensified the dispute, with the students arguing that the administration is using procedural grounds to defeat the relief granted by the court.

The students have also decided to pursue contempt proceedings against the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar, alleging non-compliance with the high court's direction.

With the university refusing to revoke the suspensions and the examination dispute now before the court, the SFI has announced an indefinite hunger strike from today (2 November) at the university campus.

Teachers’ union backs 16 students, wants V-C gone

For the 16 students, the immediate issue is no longer merely the disciplinary proceedings. Missing the November examinations could mean losing an entire semester, with consequences for their academic progression and future.

The university's handling of the dispute has also drawn criticism from within its academic community.

The Association of Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University Teachers (ASSUT) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the suspensions and called upon the administration to ensure that all affected students are allowed to appear for the examinations.

In a strongly worded statement, the teachers' association said the university's own disciplinary inquiry had found that the students had not committed any offence in connection with the agitation.

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"Instead of holding democratic discussions with the students who came forward with protests over their basic requirements and attempting to resolve their grievances within a stipulated time, the temporary Vice-Chancellor is resorting to retaliatory measures," the association said.

ASSUT has also questioned how a Vice-Chancellor who, according to the association, is repeatedly bringing disrepute to the university and challenging the judicial process can continue in office.

LDF says UDF complicit in varsity’s ‘RSS agenda’

The dispute has now acquired an ideological dimension, with the LDF accusing the UDF government of allowing the university administration to pursue what it describes as an RSS-driven agenda.

Ciza Thomas, appointed Vice-Chancellor by the Governor in his capacity as Chancellor, has become a major point of contention in the dispute. The SFI argues that the UDF government and the Higher Education Department cannot evade responsibility for the university administration's actions affecting students.

“The FIR registered on August 13 clearly stated the allegations against the students. We are not disputing that a protest was held or that students laid siege to the V-C's office. The allegation in the FIR was that they obstructed the police from performing their duty. It was only after the V-C met the Chancellor on August 14 that the allegation of a physical attack on her was added to the case. Minister Roji M John is fully aware of this sequence of events. Yet, he is standing by the V-C. They are hand in glove in this,” said M Sivaprasad, SFI state president.

Latest flashpoint

The minister, however, has maintained that the university is an autonomous institution and that disciplinary decisions are within its jurisdiction. His position has become a central point of contention, with the LDF arguing that the government cannot invoke university autonomy to avoid accountability for what is happening on a public university campus.

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The confrontation at Maharaja's College, which comes under Mahatma Gandhi University, has added another layer to the political dispute. While the UDF has focused on the disruption of a convocation ceremony and the conduct of the protesters, the LDF has sought to bring the discussion back to the suspended students of Sanskrit university and their academic future.

With the November 4 examinations approaching and the V-C challenging the high court's order, the immediate question is whether the students will be allowed to write their examinations.