The Central University of Kerala (CUK) Staff Association has demanded an apology from Vice-Chancellor in-charge K.C. Baiju following an allegation of mental harassment by an employee. The uproar stems from an incident involving a non-teaching staff member who lodged a complaint detailing distressing encounters with the Vice-Chancellor.
According to the complaint, the information scientist and system analyst faced undue verbal aggression and harsh language from the Vice-Chancellor while discussing the abrupt Internet connectivity disruption preceding an executive council meeting. The encounter reportedly escalated to a point where the aggrieved staff member fell unconscious, necessitating hospitalisation.
In a letter to the V-C, the staff association vehemently condemned the Vice-Chancellor’s alleged behaviour, decrying it as detrimental to the institution’s ethos and the well-being of its employees.
The incident has sparked outrage among staff members, who asserted that such conduct undermined workplace respect, fairness, and dignity, particularly towards a woman employee.
‘Eroding confidence’
The association emphasised that such behaviour has the potential to erode employee confidence and morale, especially amidst the shortage of non-teaching staff in the university.
The general body meeting held on April 17, 2024, served as a forum for collective discontent, with many expressing dismay over the Vice-Chancellor’s behaviour.
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, the association has demanded an unconditional apology from Prof. Baiju within a week. Failure to address the concerns may result in escalated action, including the initiation of a pen-down strike, the association warned.
