Kerala : ‘People Wishing for Change’

PVC Violates Decorum and Propriety

Pro Vice Chancellor (PVC) of Kerala’s Mahatma Gandhi University Dr Sheena Shukkoor might have ignored her commitments to the institutions she heads, but not her allegiance to her religion hence her party that is Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Malayalam TV channels did telecast her Dubai speech delivered on May 22, 2015 in a meeting organised by Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) unit of the Non Resident Keralites (NRKs) from a village called Cheruvathoor, Malappuram district, the Muslim majority district of Kerala.
Addressing the KMCC meeting Dr Sheena said: “Tomorrow I am terribly busy as I have to participate in the most important meetings of the Academic Council as well as the Syndicate of the university. Meetings are crucial especially in the wake of the controversy surrounding the incidents of cheating in exams having taken place exam in the varsity (She was obviously referring to the alleged examination cheating of TJ Jospeh, IPS, the Inspector General of Police). Still I am here. I cannot ignore the progamme of KMCC, because, myself and my husband got the coveted positions only due to the shadow of the green flag of IUML. Now, both of us enjoy good jobs, houses and cars, all credit goes to IUML”. (Her husband Adv. C Shukoor is the Public Prosecutor in Kasergod).
People of Kerala believe that this is the blatant violation of the decorum and propriety the PVC of a varsity is expected to keep. This is very significant since Dr Sheena is reported to be tipped to the post of Vice Chancellor (VC) of Calicut Varsity. First of all, a VC or PVC is expected to get the permission of the Governor and the Chief Secretary of the state before he/she flies abroad. It is also reported that Dr Sheena had obtained the Governor’s permission to go abroad and deliver a speech on the “Challenges being faced by the higher education” and come back on May 23, 2015. But, what she has delivered is a political speech, far away from the topic of higher education.Recently it was reported that Governor P Sathasivam, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the varsity, had sought the report from the VC in connection with a private complaint against Dr Sheena’s PhD in Law and her alleged favouritism towards the people belonging to a ‘particular community’. But, she dismissed the reports. Now, the Governor is reported to have asked the VC to report about the controversial gulf speech of Dr Sheena. This is in the wake of the findings of the prima facie enquiry that Dr Sheena has violated the rules. The speech in question has created waves of controversies in the social media. There are reports that Governor has recommended for a Central HRD enquiry into the controversy in connection with her PhD. It is reported that she got her PhD from Ambedkar University, Chennai.    —T Satisan, Kerala