The Kannur University Syndicate has decided to remove Registrar Joby K. Joseph amid moves to change the varsity’s stand before the Supreme Court in the case concerning the appointment of Priya Varghese as Associate Professor. Ms. Varghese is the wife of CPI(M) Kannur district secretary K.K. Ragesh.

The decision to replace the registrar was reportedly brought before the Syndicate as a special agenda item. The post has been entrusted to Finance Officer Sunil Kumar S. He will discharge the duties of the Registrar until further arrangements are made by the university.

Mr. Joseph had earlier filed affidavits before the Kerala High Court and its Division Bench defending Ms. Varghese’ appointment. The university had also been represented before the Supreme Court by standing counsel K.R. Subhash Chandran. However, the Syndicate formally replaced him with P.S. Zulfikar Ali, which is seen as part of the move to present a revised position in the case.

The change comes after the UDF government adopted a position opposing Ms. Varghese’ appointment. The university is now expected to take a different stand before the Supreme Court, arguing that Ms. Varghese did not possess the required teaching experience and qualifications and that the appointment process was not transparent. With the change of counsel, the university has also begun the process of placing a fresh opposition before the apex court.

The decision to remove Mr. Jose has also been criticised as a unilateral move by the Syndicate, which currently has no Left representatives.

The matter has now been posted for further hearing on September 23.