The Kerala High Court on Friday declined to stay the suspension of Kerala University Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar, while sharply questioning his claim that a portrait of Bharat Mata amounted to a religious symbol and posed a law-and-order threat.
Justice N. Nagaresh, while hearing Kumar’s petition challenging his July 2 suspension, asked, “How is ‘Bharat Mata’ a religious symbol? What was provocative in the photograph? How could putting it up cause a law and order issue in Kerala?”
Kumar was suspended by Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal for allegedly cancelling the sanction granted to a private programme at the University’s Senate Hall — a function attended by Governor and Chancellor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar — reportedly over the display of a Bharat Mata portrait with a saffron flag.
During the hearing, Kumar told the court that the university’s security officer informed him a religious symbol was being displayed in the hall, which led him to cancel the event. He also cited student group tensions between the CPI(M)’s Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the BJP’s Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) over the portrait’s presence.
However, the court questioned the appropriateness of the cancellation, especially when the Governor was present. “Should this have been the way to handle things when the Chancellor of the university was on stage?” Justice Nagaresh remarked.
The court also noted that the exact nature of the problem remained unclear and directed the Kerala police to file a report indicating whether any significant law and order situation had arisen due to the portrait. It further sought a detailed reply affidavit from the Registrar.
Kumar argued that under university rules, the Vice Chancellor can suspend the Registrar only in emergency situations, and claimed that he had issued the cancellation notice before the Governor arrived. The court observed that the VC can issue orders in the absence of a syndicate meeting, but the final approval must come from the senate.
The matter will next be heard on Monday, July 7.
