Teachers’ unions slam KSHEC vice-chairperson Rajan Gurukkal’s remarks on the administrative deadlock at Kerala University

Three major Left-leaning teachers’ organisations have strongly criticised Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) vice-chairperson Rajan Gurukkal for making “distorted interpretations” that allegedly justify and empower “authoritarian tendencies” by the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) in-charge of Kerala University, Mohanan Kunnummal.

Prof. Gurukkal, during a recent interview with The Hindu, had emphasised the role of the Vice-Chancellor as the sole executive and academic head of the university. He also faulted the Syndicate for the existing administrative impasse that has affected the institution’s functioning.

In their joint statement, All Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association (AKPCTA), the Association of Kerala Government College Teachers (AKGCT) and the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) accused Prof. Gurukkal of undermining the democratic ethos enshrined in the Kerala University Act by seemingly endorsing a top-down administrative model in university governance.

“Kerala’s universities are not centres of autocracy, but democratic institutions rooted in the renaissance legacy of social justice and collective decision-making,” the statement read.

The organisations also took umbrage at Prof. Gurukkal’s perceived silence on the alleged misuse of powers by a temporary V-C who has been purportedly acting in violation of university statutes.

According to the unions, the V-C’s recent actions of bypassing the Syndicate and other statutory bodies and issuing unilateral orders violate not only the letter, but the spirit of the University Act. Clause 10(13), which allows the V-C to act independently only under extraordinary circumstances, is being misused, they claim.

The joint statement accuses the V-C of showing intolerance towards student democratic bodies and pursuing an administrative agenda that aligns with right-wing interests. It warns that such actions, if unopposed, will lead to the erosion of academic freedom and institutional integrity.

The unions also refuted Prof. Gurukkal’s assertion that the V-C’s approval is needed to implement Syndicate decisions. “Chapter 6, Clause 2 of the Kerala University Statute allows the Syndicate to convene even in the V-C’s absence. The V-C can chair the Syndicate and cast a vote if necessary, but they do not have veto power. The notion that Syndicate decisions require the V-C’s approval is a serious legal violation. The High Court has ruled that such power is not granted under the University Act.”