KU Syndicate cuts standing committees from 10 to seven; UDF secures all convenerships

The Syndicate of Kerala University met on Tuesday after a gap of nearly six months. It also marked the first sitting after the State government replaced six Left-backed nominees with United Democratic Front (UDF)-backed members. The nominations have altered the balance of power in the university’s highest decision-making body which presently comprises 11 UDF members, six Left Democratic Front (LDF)-backed members and two BJP members.

The Syndicate approved a major restructuring of its Standing Committee system, bringing down the number of committees from 10 to seven. All seven convenerships were assumed by UDF-backed Syndicate members. This is for the first time since the University Act came into force in 1974 that the CPI(M) has not held a standing committee convenership in the Syndicate.

The Planning Committee, Student Discipline Committee and Student Services Committee were merged into other standing committees. The newly appointed standing committee conveners are R.S. Sasikumar (Finance), S. Prema (Staff, Planning), Sibi C. Babu (Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff, Student Discipline), Ahamed Fazil Y. (Examinations), Ajay Juel Kuriakose (College Affiliation, Student Services), Noushad V. (Research) and K. Anil Kumar (University Institutes of Technology, Teacher Education Centres).

Raises opposition

The restructuring was opposed by Left-backed members, who objected both to the reduction in the number of committees and to the denial of convenerships to Left members. Vice-chancellor in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal formally reported at the Syndicate meeting the replacement of the university’s Standing Counsel in the Kerala High Court. Advocate Thomas Abraham was recently replaced by advocate Girija Gopal as Standing Counsel.

While the Left-backed members alleged the proceedings reflected an understanding between the UDF and BJP members, the BJP-backed members claimed that the change in administration made little difference to the functioning of the university. The UDF’s decision to “centralise” power by helming each standing committee is a blow to the democratic character of university governance, they alleged. Special Syndicate meetings would be convened on July 9 and 10 to dispose of nearly 1,000 files that have remained pending for several months without approval.