The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Thodupuzha, on Wednesday acquitted Prof T.J.Joseph, former head of the Malayalam Department of Newman College, Thodupuzha, in connection with a controversial question paper he had prepared for an internal exam of Degree students. The question paper was prepared for the internal exam of the second year B.Com Malayalam students on March 25, 2010.
The court accepted Mr Joseph’s plea that he was innocent and the question paper was prepared without any mala fide intention to hurt the religious sentiments of anyone. He said the question paper was prepared based on a book written by P.T.Kunju Muhammed. The court on Wednesday had heard the arguments of prosecution and Mr Joseph’s counsel.
The controversy had led to him being assaulted by alleged SDPI activists on July 5, 2010 for insulting the Prophet. He was attacked by a group of people and his right arm was chopped off. Eight persons were arrested for the assault.
The Mahatma Gandhi University to which the Newman College is affiliated, had revoked the decision of the college management to suspend him, and termed it as ‘unintentional error' in the question paper.
