Kerala University Sanskrit PhD Row: High Court Grants Interim Protection From Arrest To Dean Booked Under SC/ST Atrocities Act

The Kerala High Court on Monday (November 10) granted interim protection from arrest to Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari, Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Chairman of the Doctoral Committee, and Dean, Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Kerala.The petitioner is the sole accused in the crime registered at Sreekaryam Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram alleging commission of the offences under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015. The prosecution allegation is that the petitioner, who belongs to a high caste, called the victim, Vipin Vijayan, a research scholar in the University by his caste name in the presence of staff and members.Justice K. Babu passed the order in her anticipatory bail plea, after finding that she had established a prima facie case. The Court also asked her to implead the victim in the case as an additional respondent.It observed, “The petitioner shall implead the victim as additional respondent. The petitioner has established a prima facie case. The petitioner shall not be arrested till the next posting date.”It then posted the matter to November 19.According to the petitioner, she has been falsely implicated in the crime following an incident during Vipin's open defence, a research scholar of the University. In her plea, she has stated that she had attended the session as part of her official duties and the said scholar could not answer even basic questions of the audience. It was also pointed out that the scholar's thesis contained many errors.When he failed to answer appropriately, a close associate of his who was operating the online meeting platform, started muting/removing the participants of the meeting. At that point, the petitioner had to intervene to ensure transparency. She further stated that she even tried to advise Vipin and offered to help him to correct his thesis but he forcibly snatched the mic from her and concluded the session with a single line of thanks.“The said scholar, who is an active SFI supporter, along with his associates, subsequently intimidated, abused, and coerced the petitioner to approve a thesis found to contain serious academic defects. On her refusal, a false and motivated complaint was lodged against her, leading to the registration of the present crime,” stated the plea.The plea further submitted that she even submitted a report detailing the happening of the day to the Vice-Chancellor after 2 days while Vipin tried to threaten and harass her. She also stated that the media first started circulating a news that the University was attempting to award PhD in Sanskrit to a student who submitted thesis in English and thereafter, that there were attempts to insult a candidate belonging to SC/ST category.Subsequently, the police contacted the petitioner asking her to appear but since she was travelling out of the State for a conference, she did not go. Thereafter, on 8th November, the crime was registered implicating her.In her plea, she has stated that she has faced pressure from the side of the University and the police to approve Vipin's thesis. She has also provided reasons for directly approaching the High Court without going before the Sessions Court for her anticipatory plea. She has stated that she is fearing her personal safety because of the hostile atmosphere in the University, created by Vipin and his associates.Further, she has stated another reason:“Immediately after the registration of the crime, the Hon'ble Pro Chancellor of the University, who is also the Minister for Higher Education in the State, made open and public statements against the petitioner, insinuating as though the petitioner had committed offences attracting the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Such statements made by a person holding a high constitutional and political office have created a reasonable apprehension in the mind of the petitioner that she is unlikely to get a fair and impartial consideration before the jurisdictional authorities at Thiruvananthapuram.” Case No: Bail Appl. No. 13653 of 2025Case Title: Dr. C.N. Vijayakumari v. State of Kerala and Anr.Counsel for the petitioner: George Poonthottam (Sr.), Nisha George, Silpa SreekumarClick to Read/Download Order

Kerala University Sanskrit PhD Row: High Court Grants Interim Protection From Arrest To Dean Booked Under SC/ST Atrocities Act

K. Salma Jennath

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