Violence erupts during SFI protest against governor at Kerala University

Universities have long been key battlegrounds between the Kerala government and the Raj Bhavan during Arif Mohammed Khan’s tenure as governor. Now, under Governor Rajendra Arlekar, a new season of conflict is unfolding. On July 7, Kerala University found itself in a bizarre situation—with two registrars: one backed by the Syndicate and the state government, the other by the vice-chancellor and, allegedly, the governor’s camp.

 

The standoff began on July 2, when Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal suspended Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar for cancelling a private event at the Senate Hall, where Governor Arlekar was a guest and a Bharat Mata portrait featuring a saffron flag was displayed. However, on July 6, the university Syndicate—dominated by Left-aligned members—revoked Kumar’s suspension and reinstated him, claiming the VC lacked the authority to suspend the Registrar under the Kerala University Act.

 

Kumar returned to work on July 7 and also withdrew the case he had filed in the Kerala High Court against his suspension, citing the Syndicate’s revocation of the order. Meanwhile, the advocate representing Acting Vice-Chancellor Ciza Thomas—who had taken charge during Kunnummal’s foreign trip—opposed the withdrawal, but the court did not allow the objection.

 

Interestingly, on July 7, Thomas appointed Mini Kappen (Director, Planning & Development) as the temporary registrar and declared the Syndicate meeting that reinstated Kumar invalid. She also suspended Joint Registrar P. Hari Kumar for allegedly endorsing the Syndicate meeting held in the absence of VC. Hari Kumar was asked to submit an explanation and the minutes of the controversial meeting but went on leave and requested more time to respond. Thomas has also recommended to the governor that the Syndicate be dissolved.

 

Now, as chancellor of the university, the ball is in the governor’s court—to decide whether the suspensions issued by Kunnummal and Thomas will stand and whether the Syndicate will be dissolved.

 

Meanwhile, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) held major protests against the governor at the headquarters of various universities. At Kerala University, police allowed a large number of SFI activists to enter the headquarters. After over an hour of inaction, the police eventually clashed with the protesters and initiated action. The delay and inaction—unlike the usual swift response seen during protests by opposition-affiliated student groups—have drawn sharp criticism for escalating tensions inside the university premises.

India