KOTTAYAM: Mahatma Gandhi University on Saturday removed Dr Nandakumar Kalarikkal from the post of the director of the International and Inter University Centre for Nano Science and Nano technology (IIUCNN) for alleged caste discrimination against a research scholar.
The vice-chancellor of the university Sabu Thomas has taken charge as the director of the centre.
The university is learned to have made the decision based on a directive from the state government. Deepa P Mohanan, a research scholar, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike in the varsity, had demanded Kalarikkal’s removal from the department alleging that she faced discrimination based on caste from him and that he prevented her from doing her research.
The action against the faculty member has been taken even as the hunger strike by the student entered the ninth day on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Deepa said she will continue the hunger strike as she is firm on her demand to oust the professor from the centre.
Thomas said that Kalarikkal has stepped down and that the decision was made after holding talks with Kalarikkal based on a directive from the government.
"Kalarikkal is a brilliant faculty member. He was willing to step down," the vice chancellor said. He also said that nobody can remove Kalarikkal as a faculty member, adding that he will be continue to serve in the centre as well as in the Physics department.
Kalarikkal had moved court on the allegations against him and the court had quashed all the cases against him, the VC said adding that the issue needs to be settled.
Earlier in the day, minister for higher education R Bindu had signalled her support to the student.
In a Facebook post the minister said that the government has asked the university what is stopping it from removing the professor and conduct a probe.
She also said that the government is concerned about the research student’s health. She said that if there is a delay in the part of the university in removing the professor, the government will take the necessary steps. She also requested the student to withdraw from the strike by taking her words as an assurance.
