University of Calicut | Photo: Mathrubhumi Archives
Kochi: In a bid to end the stalemate over election to the Senate of Calicut University, the Kerala High Court ordered the varsity to reorganise the top body by June 30.
The order was issued in the plea filed by senate member and Kozhikode Devagiri college assistant professor Shibi M Thomas, seeking the court to issue a directive to the chancellor to set up a temporary Senate. The court said the demand of the petitioner was “immature,” but ordered the vice-chancellor to speed up the reorganisation process.
The validity of the current senate ends on March 6. Though the VC initiated the reorganisation process in November last year, no action has been taken yet. The court ordered the VC to check why the process was delayed.
The university told the court that the notification for the release of the voters' list for the election was released on February 27. The list will be released in 30 days. It will take time to finalise the list and issue the final notification, the university informed the court. The court noted that the university could not explain why there was a delay in the process. The petitioner alleged political intervention.
The Senate, a 72-member statutory body, is elected once every four years. The last election was held in 2019. It also includes ex-officio and nominated members as well. A bill had been drafted by the government to set up a temporary committee, but the governor refused to give assent for presenting it.
The Senate is the “supreme authority of the University” and has the power to “review the actions of the Syndicate and the Academic Council.”
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