T’puram: Kerala University vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal recommended a detailed investigation into the conduct of university registrar KS Anil Kumar during an event at Kerala University Senate Hall on June 25. The event, attended by governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, was organized by a pro-RSS group and featured a portrait of ‘Bharat Mata with a saffron flag’. This triggered protests by SFI workers outside and prompted intervention from the registrar.In a preliminary report submitted to Raj Bhavan, the vice-chancellor said the registrar acted inappropriately and based his intervention on unfounded allegations. The report emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation citing possible criminal implications in this matter.The vice-chancellor’s report said that the registrar showed a lack of responsibility, acted without credible evidence about the alleged display of a religious symbol and asked the organizers to cancel the programme. Reports from the registrar, the security officer and the public relations officer did not specify what the alleged symbol was or which religion it represented, said the vice-chancellor’s report.Despite being present at the venue, the registrar did not personally see the symbol. The vice-chancellor criticized Kumar’s “defiant action” of cancelling the hall booking while the national anthem was being sung in the governor’s presence. He said this action disrespected the governor’s office and damaged the university’s credibility.The vice-chancellor’s report also mentioned that the organizing committee, Shri Padmanabha Seva Samiti, had accused the registrar of acting under the influence of some university syndicate members to disrupt the event. The committee said the issue was over a garlanded image of Bharat Mata, which it maintained is not considered a religious symbol under the law. The vice-chancellor submitted the report after Raj Bhavan sought a clarification regarding the event, which had included a commemoration of the Emergency and a book release.The vice-chancellor attached supporting evidence such as photographs, internal documents and a complaint from the organizers. He noted that none of these materials confirmed the registrar’s claims about a religious symbol. Considering the constitutional protocols of a university event attended by the head of the state administration and the seriousness of the allegations, the vice-chancellor urged both internal and external investigations.
