The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed disciplinary proceedings initiated against K S Anil Kumar, former registrar of Kerala University, after questioning the Vice Chancellor’s authority to issue a memo of charges without syndicate approval.
Justice P V Kunhikrishnan, sitting as a single bench, passed the interim stay on a memo of charges issued by Kerala University Vice Chancellor Mohanan Kunnumal, who had alleged misconduct on Kumar’s part and invoked emergency powers under the Kerala University Act.
Kumar had challenged the action, contending that only the syndicate, being the appointing authority for the registrar, could initiate disciplinary proceedings. He further argued that the Vice Chancellor’s action bypassed statutory procedure and lacked any demonstrable emergency.
The High Court made specific reference to Section 10(13) of the Kerala University Act, which allows the Vice Chancellor to take action in place of the syndicate or academic council only in emergency situations, and even then, mandates reporting the action to the syndicate or council in its next meeting.
“I am surprised to see the memo of charges. What is the emergency situation that arose to issue a memo of charges is not clear from it,” the court observed.
Justice Kunhikrishnan noted that the VC had neither disclosed the nature of the emergency nor placed the memo before the syndicate in its next session held on December 24, 2025, as required by law.
“I am of the prima facie opinion that the memo of charges was issued by the Vice Chancellor without any authority,” the court said in its order, directing the VC to explain why Section 10(13) was invoked.
The court stayed all proceedings arising from the memo of charges until further notice. It granted the Vice Chancellor liberty to file a counter-affidavit and to seek an urgent listing, if needed.
The development comes after Kumar was transferred back to his parent department in December 2025 following his disinclination to continue as registrar.
The matter raises significant questions about the limits of emergency powers conferred on university vice chancellors and the procedural safeguards governing disciplinary proceedings within public universities.
