Bharat Mata Portrait Row: Kerala High Court Admits Plea By Kerala University Registrar To Revoke Suspension

The Kerala High Court has recently (November 11) admitted the petition of the Registrar of Kerala University, seeking revocation of Suspension following the Syndicate decision to revoke his suspension in the meeting convened on November 1, 2025.Justice N Nagaresh has admitted the petition and issued notice to the respondents. The petitioner, who has been suspended since July, 2025, has submitted in his petition that he has not been issued any charge sheet or informed of any disciplinary action being initiated except for a reference to it in an order issued by the Vice Chancellor. The petitioner further submits that his suspension from the service for more than 4 months is against the dictum laid down by the Supreme Court in Ajaykumar Choudhari v Union of India and Anr [2015 (7) SCC 291]. The petitioner has previously approached the Court alleging contempt of the judgment of the Court, alleging that the Syndicate meeting has not been convened by the Vice Chancellor as directed by the Court. Following this, the Vice Chancellor convened a meeting of the Syndicate on November 1, 2025. Another writ was filed by certain members of the Syndicate seeking the convening of the Syndicate meeting, where the Standing Counsel of the University has submitted that necessary measures for recording the proceedings of the meeting will be taken. The petitioner submits that one of the agenda items in the meeting was the consideration of the continuation of his suspension, and the syndicate has resolved to revoke the petitioner's suspension at that meeting. The petitioner submits that no orders have been issued allowing him to rejoin the service after the said resolution in the meeting. The matter is posted on November 18 for further consideration. BackgroundThe Registrar was suspended by the Vice Chancellor in July, 2025 for cancelling a seminar to be attended by the Governor, amid clashes between different Students' Unions over display of 'Bharat Mata' portrait with a saffron flag, purportedly giving the impression of a Hindu goddess.The Vice Chancellor had held the Registrar responsible for alleged procedural irregularities and mismanagement, leading to unrest on campus.A syndicate meeting was convened following his suspension, in which he was reinstated as the Registrar. Despite the formal revocation, the Vice Chancellor issued fresh directions asserting that the Registrar remained in suspension.The Registrar approached the High Court challenging his continued suspension despite a formal revocation of the same by the University Syndicate. He also sought to quash several orders issued by the Vice Chancellor that prevented him from rejoining duty. The High Court disposed of the petition by directing the Vice Chancellor to constitute a syndicate meeting through Registrar-in-Charge to decide whether the suspension should continue.Case Title: Prof. Dr. K S Anil Kumar v State of Kerala and Ors. Case No: WP(C) 42287/ 2025Counsel for Petitioner: P Ramakrishnan, Preethi Ramakrishnan, Pratap Abraham Barghese, Manojkumar G, Ashok MenonCounsel for Respondent: Thomas Abraham (SC- University of Kerala)

Bharat Mata Portrait Row: Kerala High Court Admits Plea By Kerala University Registrar To Revoke Suspension

Anamika MJ

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