The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has dismissed as baseless allegations of corruption levelled by a former staff member.
In a statement here on Thursday, the Registrar said the allegations were deliberate attempts to malign the university. “Some of the allegations are exaggerated versions of audit observations made in the 1980s and 1990s that have either been dropped or are under scrutiny. Appointments and service conditions of the KAU staff and teachers are governed by the KAU Act, statutes and approved norms. Nothing has been implemented without the approval of the executive committee. The total number of teaching and non-teaching staff in the university is below 60 per cent of the sanctioned strength. In all, 284 posts of professors and 52 posts of associate professors are still vacant,” he said.
The Registrar said some of the vacant posts would get filled when staff members were promoted. “Another major allegation relates to appointment of staff from an expired rank list. In cases pointed out by complainants, university had followed the orders of the Kerala High Court,” he added.