Kerala University Faculty Approaches High Court Alleging Harassment Over Sanskrit PhD Row

When the matter was taken up for admission, Justice V G Arun directed the standing counsel to get instruction while observing that the petitioner is protected by an order preventing his arrest (passed in a bail application filed by the petitioner).

The petitioner has now approached the High Court seeking protection from alleged harassment by university authorities and police officers following a controversial Ph.D. open defence session.

The petitioner alleges that she has been subjected to harassment and coercion for performing her academic duties during a Ph.D. open defence held on October 15, 2025.

The dispute arose during the open defence of research scholar Vipin Vijayan, whose thesis titled “Sadgurusarvaswam – A Study” was presented for evaluation. The petitioner stated that, during the open defence, when the research scholar was asked questions, he was unable to answer them, and it has further resulted in disruption of the proceedings by the students who were present during the open defence.

The petitioner, who is the Chairperson of Doctoral Committee of Sanskrit, University of Kerala, subsequently, reported the incident to the Vice-Chancellor and expressed her objection to awarding PhD to the research scholar. 

Meanwhile, the research scholar has lodged a complaint under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015, against the petitioner alleging caste-based discrimination.

The petitioner, in her writ petition claims that the police have been pressuring her to 'settle' the matter. She also alleged that members of the university Syndicate attempted to coerce her into signing the Ph.D award documents.

The petitioner has sought a direction to the Chancellor to consider her representation on the issue. The petitioner has also sought a declaration that the University's 2022 “Open Defence Guidelines” are invalid and inconsistent with UGC's Ph.D Regulation, 2022. It has also sought for direction restraining the University from pressuring her to sign the open defence record and the police from harassing her under the pending FIR.

The matter is posted to 17 November, for further consideration.

Case Title: Dr. C N Vijayakumari v the Chancellor and Others

Case No: WP(C) 42130/ 2025

Counsel for Petitioner: George Poonthottam (Sr.), Nisha George, A L navaneeth Krishnan, Kavya Varma M M, Anshin K K, Akshara Raju, Silpa Sreekumar, Sidharth R Wariyar