Central University of Kerala VC was beneath ‘strain’ to droop trainer who criticised BJP-RSS

Express News Service
KASARGOD: Central University of Kerala vice-chancellor prof H Venkateshwarlu was beneath “tremendous pressure” to behave towards Dr Gilbert Sebastian, who referred to the RSS-BJP as a proto-fascist organisation and questioned the Centre’s vaccine coverage in his class, mentioned a senior dean of the college.

“The VC was inclined to let off the faculty member with a warning. But he was under tremendous pressure,” he mentioned. The telephone name to the VC was not answered.

Prof Ventakeshwarlu had arrange a three-member fact-finding committee to look into the complaints filed by the college’s ABVP unit and A Vinod Karuvarakundu, a member of the National Monitoring Committee on Education (SCs, STs, Persons with Special Needs and Minority Education) beneath the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

The committee members of the fact-finding committee have been Prof Ok P Suresh, Dean (Academics), Prof M S John of the Department of International Relations and Politics, and controller of examination Dr Muraleedharan Nambiar.

According to the sources within the college, Dr Sebastian didn’t deny the observations he made within the class to the committee however mentioned the complaints towards him have been filed by distorting and cherry-picking his sentences.

Dr Sebastian refused to touch upon this report.

During his on-line class on ‘Fascism and Nazism’ on April 19, Dr Sebastian of the Department of International Relations and Politics, mentioned: “The RSS and its affiliate organisations, together called as the Sangh Parivar meaning the Sangh family (including the BJP) in India can also be considered proto-fascist”. Proto-fascist actions are these influenced by classical fascist organisations.

In the identical class, the assistant professor additionally criticised the federal government for exporting vaccines at a time when the nation’s vaccine wants weren’t met. “That shows their patriotism,” he mentioned.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) — the scholars’ wing of the RSS — threatened mass protest if the VC didn’t take motion towards the school member.

Vinod Karuvarakundu — who can also be a former president of ABVP’s Kerala unit — wrote to the vice-chancellor demanding disciplinary motion towards Dr Sebastain on April 19, the identical day the net lecture was given.

He alleged the trainer tried to poison the minds of younger college students and unfold hate towards the democratically elected authorities beneath Narendra Modi.

In its report, the committee arrange by the vice-chancellor, listed out solely the info and didn’t advocate any actions towards Dr Sebastian as a result of that was not the mandate of the panel, mentioned the sources.

However, when the administration pressed the fact-finding committee to quote a rule which the school member might have allegedly violated, the committee members “orally” mentioned he might have violated Rule 9 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 which offers with ‘criticism of presidency’.

The rule bars authorities staff from making antagonistic feedback on the federal government or authorities insurance policies or making feedback that might embarrass the relations between the central authorities and any state governments or any overseas governments.

The rule won’t apply to Dr Sebastian as a result of it has an essential caveat, mentioned an skilled in college guidelines. Rule 9 says it shall not apply to any statements made or views expressed by a authorities servant of their official capability or the due efficiency of the duties assigned to him.

The identical skilled additionally mentioned the Central University of Kerala had “illegally” adopted the CCS Conduct Rules to muzzle its academics.​He mentioned on March 19, 2015, the Allahabad High Court dominated that professors of universities “are neither members of a service nor do they maintain a civil submit beneath the Union nor are they within the service of native or different authority. CCS (CCA) Rules, would, due to this fact, haven’t any utility to a Central University”, he learn out the order.

The Central University of Kerala has a precedent of utilizing suspension as a punishment, mentioned a number of college members on situation of anonymity.

In February 2020, the college then vice-chancellor Prof G Gopakumar suspended Dr Prasad Pannian, an affiliate professor within the Department of English and Comparative Literature, over allegations of educational harassment by a Dalit analysis scholar.

After one yr and three months, he continues to be in suspension.