Row over PhD admission denial: Kerala higher education department conducts inspection at Kalam Technical University

T'puram: Amid the controversy over the alleged denial of PhD admission to a former syndicate member of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (KTU), the state higher education department conducted an inspection at the university headquarters after minister R Bindu received a complaint.Following this, KTU vice chancellor K Sivaprasad approached governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar seeking further directions.Ever since former governor Arif Mohammed Khan appointed Sivaprasad as the interim VC of KTU against the state govt's wish, the CPM nominees in the syndicate have been constantly clashing with Sivaprasad, resulting in an academic and administrative stalemate at the university.It is alleged that the additional secretary, with a team of officials, had made a flash visit to the university headquarters, rummaged through documents, and forced the university registrar to give a statement on why PhD admission was denied to the former syndicate member.At the centre of the row is also the powers the state govt could possibly possess under the Universities Act Amendment Bill pending before governor Arlekar. The amendments empower the minister or the official deputed by her to call for the university files. However, the existing act and laws do not have such provisions. Former higher education minister KT Jaleel had landed in trouble for his direct intervention, forcing the university authorities to violate the examination rules to help a student.Earlier, the VC had apprised the governor of the additional secretary's ‘unlawful' visit and examination of university files. The governor is learnt to have initiated steps to summon the official concerned at Raj Bhavan and seek an explanation.