The Syndicate of the University of Kerala has decided against cancelling the affiliation of the Kerala Law Academy Law College as demanded by a section of its members over controversies dogging the institution.
A resolution for cancellation, sought by seven United Democratic Front (UDF) members and the lone CPI member, was rejected with 12 members voting against it.
The meeting, chaired by Pro Vice-Chancellor N. Veeramanikandan, was attended by 20 members, including ex-officio members.
However, the Syndicate has asked the standing committee on Examinations and Students Discipline to look into the allegation that college Principal P. Lekshmi Nair had pursued an LLB course as well as a postgraduate programme simultaneously in violation of the university statute. The standing committee will also examine the awarding of excess internal marks and attendance to third-year student Anuradha P. Nair, the fiancée of Ms. Nair’s son. For this, statements from the student, Ms. Nair and the teachers involved in the internal assessment process will be collected.
Search for new principal
The Syndicate directed the college to find a successor to Ms. Nair at the earliest.
While the college management had sought to hand over the post to Vice-Principal M.M. Madhavan Potti, he was found to lack the necessary qualifications .
The meeting witnessed noisy scenes with the UDF and CPI members demanding strict action against the college. A note presented by Congress nominee Johnson Abraham urged the Syndicate to recommend the Principal’s resignation, scrap the college’s affiliation, and recommend that the government takeover the institution and its land.
CPI(M) members, however, opposed adopting any measures against the college, since the Principal alone had been found responsible for ‘maladministration’ by the varsity’s sub-committee.
The standing committee on Examinations and Students Discipline, which met prior to the Syndicate meet, decided to revamp regulations of law courses and make recommendations to the next Academic Council.
The decision followed allegations of bias in the internal assessment system.
A sub-committee made up of the standing committee convener, Examinations Controller, and Dean of Faculty of Law will be formed to look at internal marks and marks awarded.
