Guv acts tough, stays Priya’s Kannur University appointment citing nepotism

In a blow to the state government, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan used his powers as Chancellor of universities to stay the appointment of an associate professor at Kannur University on grounds of nepotism.

The Governor’s action comes a day after Kannur University Vice Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran clarified to him that there were no irregularities in the selection process.

Priya Varghese is the wife of KK Ragesh, who is a CPM leader and the private secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The stay on the varsity Syndicate’s resolution is a heavy blow for the ruling CPM.

The Chancellor has also stayed “all further proceedings pursuant to the selection procedure for appointment of associate professor in the Department of Malayalam, with immediate effect until further orders”.

The Chancellor invoked specific provisions in the Kannur University Act, 1996 in issuing the order. He has also served show-cause notices “to all stakeholders”.

It is alleged that Ms Varghese had the worst research score among six applicants for the post in the Malayalam department. However, she climbed the rank-list after the interview that was conducted by a committee led by the vice-chancellor. The information came to light following an RTI enquiry.
(to be updated)