Proposal to confer DLitt on President Kovind: Kerala University VC’s letter validates Opposition’s cost

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM  A letter by Kerala University Vice-Chancellor VP Mahadevan Pillai has confirmed the Opposition’s declare that Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had beneficial conferring honorary D.Litt diploma on President Ram Nath Kovind however the varsity turned it down. The letter additionally revealed that no formal dialogue was held by the varsity Syndicate on the matter earlier than the proposal was rejected. 

The letter, written by the Vice-Chancellor on plain paper and addressed to the Chancellor (Governor) on December 7 refers to a gathering between him and the Governor per week in the past wherein the proposal to confer the honorary diploma on the President was reportedly mentioned. 

“I have discussed with several members of the Syndicate about the matter of conferring DLitt Degree to his Excellency the President of India. The members of the Syndicate turn (sic) it down,” the Vice-Chancellor stated within the letter.

A day after receiving the Vice- Chancellor’s letter, the Governor shot off a terse letter to the Chief Minister expressing anguish over the alleged political interference in college affairs. He additionally expressed willingness to relinquish the publish of Chancellor of state universities. 

The Vice Chancellor’s letter has additionally added credence to the Opposition’s allegation that the proposal of conferring the honorary diploma on the President was the actual bone of competition between the Governor and the LDF authorities. While the Governor had neither confirmed nor denied the Opposition’s cost, the federal government had maintained that it had not interfered within the college’s affairs. 

Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan criticised the way wherein the Governor’s proposal was rejected by the Vice-Chancellor. Satheesan stated the matter ought to have been formally positioned earlier than the Syndicate for dialogue and the choice ratified by the Senate. Instead, the Vice-Chancellor mentioned it informally with a number of Syndicate members and turned down the advice, he alleged.