Governor and Chancellor P. Sathasivam rejected a petition by Calicut University Vice Chancellor M. Abdul Salam to reconsider the former’s directive asking him to re-fix his salary in accordance with the Rule 100 of the Kerala Service Rules (KSR). The Chancellor, in an order issued on September 26, had asked Dr. Salam to re-fix his pay in accordance with the KSR, and thus to pay back to the government the excess amount he drew from the exchequer by way of double wages.
Dr. Salam had claimed that his appointment could not be considered re-employment and that the KSR Rule 100 was not applicable to him. He also raised a case of former Kerala University Vice Chancellor M.K. Ramachandran Nair to buttress his claims.
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The Chancellor, in his order on Monday, rejected all the claims raised by Dr. Salam and said that the KSR Rule 100 would be binding on his appointment as Vice Chancellor. The Chancellor also said that Dr. Salam’s appointment should be considered re-employment.
The Chancellor’s order said that Dr. Salam had no right to protest now as his salary computation was done in accordance with the KSR at the time of his appointment.
Mr. Sathasivam rejected the Vice Chancellor’s argument that former Kerala University Vice Chancellor M.K. Ramachandran Nair was allowed to draw both salary and pension. “The same cannot have any relevance since negative equality cannot be permitted,” the order said.
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Dr. Salam will have to repay several lakhs of rupees which he drew in excess of what he was eligible for. His drawing of double wages by way of full salary and pension had drawn criticism from different sections, including the Syndicate members.
A group of Syndicate members led by P.M. Niyas had sought Dr. Salam’s resignation as they accused him of “drawing double wages illegally”.