VC reinstated University Registrar

KOTTAYAM: Vice Chancellor A V George revoked the suspension of University Registrar M R Unni, using his special powers under section 10 (17) of the MG University Act. A syndicate meeting of Mahatma Gandhi University on December 5, 2013, had decided to suspend M R Unni, on the basis of findings of a syndicate sub-committee that Unni lacked administrative experience to hold the post. Following this, the registrar had approached the High Court of Kerala and a single bench on January 13, directed the university to reinstate him as the University Registrar. That was the third suspension for Unni in a year. He had been suspended on March 18, 2013 on charges of insubordination and misconduct and later, was been kept under continued suspension on April 24, 2013 as part of another disciplinary action. However, both the suspensions were revoked by the University, following the intervention of the court.

The single bench observed that the suspension of Unni from the post was against the rule of law and directed the university to take steps to reinstate him with immediate effect. However, the university filed an appeal before division bench against the order and the case is still pending before the court. Though, the Division bench refused to stay the single bench order to reinstate Unni as registrar, the University had been delaying the implementation of the order.