Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS)
"Thrissur: A complaint has been filed with National Commission for Scheduled Castes against the appointment of vice chancellor in Kerala University of Health Sciences.
The complaint was filed by Dr. K. Praveen Lal, one of the applicants for the VC's post, in which he alleged that the selected candidate was the least qualified among the seventeen applicants. The complaint suggests that something fishy happened when the search committee, headed by the Planning Board member Dr. B. Ekbal, shortlisted three candidates.
The complaint points out that all appointments made through secret and opaque procedures result in the expulsion of the socially and culturally backward people and the VC appointment was against natural justice and the spirit of the constitution. The complainant has asked to review the appointment.
Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal was appointed as Vice-Chancellor by the Governor, the chancellor of the university, on 26th November. Mohanan took charge the same day. A suspicion of a foul play was raised on day one.
Former UGC member Dr. Hari Gowtham and Dr. Mayil Vahanan were the other members in the search committee. It was heard that the shortlist had Dr. V. Ramankutty, son of former chief minister C. Achutha Menon, Dr. Harikumar, the dean of the research wing of the university and son-in-law of CPM Politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai, and Dr. Praveen Lal.
Dr. Praveen Lal, who has 37 years experience in the medical profession, has submitted a comparison of the qualifications of himself and the finally selected candidate.
The complainant has submitted that if the present situation of the doctors from SC community is taken into account, none among them may be able to sit in the post of the VC in the near future. Dr. Praveen Lal also demanded that the commission formulate a condition that may compel the concerned officials to submit the reason for dropping the names of SC candidates during the appointment to such higher positions.