Priya varghese

The court directed the Union Grants Commission (UGC) to be a party in the case and sought an explanation over the petitioner's claim that guidelines and regulations were not followed in the selection process. Joseph Sacaria had argued that Kannur University moved ahead with the appointment of Priya Varghese by disregarding the UGC guidelines. He said Priya lacks necessary qualifications mandated by UGC.

Kannur: Rubbishing the row over the appointment of CPM leader and CM’s private secretary KK Ragesh’s wife Priya Varghese, Kannur University has finally come up with an explanation. In the press release, the vice chancellor pointed out that high research score is not mandatory in the appointment of associate professor in the university. A few days back, documents received in reply to an RTI plea revealed that an interview for the post of associate professor was held to appoint Priya Varghese, who obtained poor research score compared to other candidates. As this triggered a fresh controversy, the university has come forward with an explanation.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, exercising his power as Chancellor of Universities, has stayed the appointment of Priya Varghese, wife of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's private secretary K. K. Rajesh, ex-MP, as Associate Professor in the Department of Malayalam, Kannur University (KU). Invoking his powers under Section 7 (3) of the Kannur Universities Act, 1996, Mr. Khan also issued show cause notices to stakeholders, including Ms. Varghese and university Vice Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran. SUCC complaint The Governor had found some merit in the Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) complaint that the university had ignored low research scores and given disproportionate weightage to a ‘highly subjective and questionable’ interview to load the dice in Ms. Varghese’s favour at the expense of six other “more eligible” candidates. Higher Education Minister R. Bindu claimed the government had no say in Ms. Varghese's appointment. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan waded into the issue by demanding Mr. Ravindran’s immediate resignation. He also slammed the government’s move to pass a law that would effectively relegate universities to a subaltern status. Mr. Ravindran said he would seek legal remedy. Widening rift Mr. Khan's decision could widen the rift between the government and the Raj Bhavan. The Chancellor's ruling also capped a protracted dispute between Mr. Khan and the Higher Education Department. It also triggered widespread speculation that the governme...

It is not the first time that there has been an allegation of nepotism against a top Kerala CPI(M) leader. There have been quite a few similar job appointments in institutions, which have created a flutter in the state. While in three such cases jobs were managed, Priya Varghese is yet to get one. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who is also the Chancellor, just the other day stayed the selection procedure for appointment of Priya Varghese as Associate Professor in the Department of Malayalam at Kannur University with immediate effect until further orders. Read | Priya is the wife of KK Raghesh, former Rajya Sabha member and the present private secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Similar job appointments of the wives of top CPI(M) leaders that created a furore includes the wife of two-time former Lok Sabha member P.K. Biju and the wife of the present State Industries Minister and former Rajya Sabha member P Rajiv Biju's wife got a teaching job in Kerala University, and Rajiv's wife got it in Cochin University. Reports of present Speaker of the Kerala Assembly MB Rajesh's wife employed at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady have also come up. The Congress-led Opposition took out protests against these appointments. While the wife of Rajesh got the job, Priya's continues to hang fire as there were reports that she as well as the Kannur University will move the Kerala High Court. Governor Khan of late has been blowing hot and cold, and on Friday...

This is what Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) — the whistleblowers’ group whose revelations against the wife of chief minister’s private secretary K K Ragesh culmminated with the governor’s move — has claimed by citing a 2014 High Court judgment in a related case. The SUCC has approached the governor with a copy of the verdict. In the order, the HC had said that experience would be considered only if it is acquired after obtaining the basic educational qualification prescribed for a post. The SUCC said Priya obtained her PhD in 2019, after which she was the student services director in Kannur University for two years from August 7, 2019 to June 15, 2021. On June 16, 2021, she re-entered teaching service in Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, but on July 7, 2021, she was appointed on deputation as assistant director in the State Institute of Languages, the SUCC said. “Since both the posts in which she served on deputation were non-teaching posts, her actual teaching experience after obtaining PhD was only 20 days while applying for the post,” the SUCC said. Priya’s name should be removed from list: SUCC It said four of the five other candidates shortlisted for interview had teaching experience ranging from eight to 13 years. “In the wake of the HC verdict, Priya’s name should be removed from the rank list prepared by the varsity,” the SUCC demanded while submitting a copy of the judgment to Raj Bhavan. TNIE tried to reach Priya for a response to SUCC’s claims, but she ...