Newman College shows intolerance again
Newman College, Thodupuzha, which dismissed Malayalam professor T J Joseph for his controversial questionnaire that led to a Muslim extremist group hacking his hand, has suspended another professor for speaking against the college management.
By Joe A Scaria, ET Bureau |
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Newman College, Thodupuzha, which dismissed Malayalam professor T J Joseph for his controversial questionnaire that led to a Muslim extremist group hacking his hand, has suspended another professor for speaking against the college management.
Professor Stephen Joseph of the botany department was suspended this week for allegedly making malicious comments against the college principal during a seminar organised by his department last month. The suspended professor alleged that he faced the management’s wrath because he had been close to the sacked professor T J Joseph.
Newman College manger Thomas Malekudy denied the professor’s allegation. “Stephen Joseph’s suspension has nothing to do with the T J Joseph episode. There was a national seminar in the first week of September organised by the botany department, during which professor Stephen made vulgar remarks about the college principal. He made those remarks in front of faculty members and students as well as guests from different parts of the country,” he said.
Malekudy said professor Stephen had been served a memo to explain his act, and that the decision to suspend him was taken because his reply did not answer points raised in the memo. The college manager said professor Stephen had also sent copies of his letter of explanation to the police station, other colleges and political parties.
The development comes less than a fortnight before Kerala goes to the panchayat polls, and political parties are debating the influence of religious leaderships on voters.
CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has been a severe critic of the church leadership in recent times, while finance minister Thomas Isaac has criticised the trend of ‘mixing faith and political choice’ of voters. The election commission added another element to the issue when it came down strongly against pastoral letters read out in churches to influence voters.
Sacked professor T J Joseph, undergoing physiotherapy for his multiple injuries, has appealed to the appellate tribunal of the university, contesting the decision of the college to sack him. He was attacked for a controversial question he had incorporated in an internal examination for B Com students.
Professor Stephen Joseph of the botany department was suspended this week for allegedly making malicious comments against the college principal during a seminar organised by his department last month. The suspended professor alleged that he faced the management’s wrath because he had been close to the sacked professor T J Joseph.
Newman College manger Thomas Malekudy denied the professor’s allegation. “Stephen Joseph’s suspension has nothing to do with the T J Joseph episode. There was a national seminar in the first week of September organised by the botany department, during which professor Stephen made vulgar remarks about the college principal. He made those remarks in front of faculty members and students as well as guests from different parts of the country,” he said.
Malekudy said professor Stephen had been served a memo to explain his act, and that the decision to suspend him was taken because his reply did not answer points raised in the memo. The college manager said professor Stephen had also sent copies of his letter of explanation to the police station, other colleges and political parties.
The development comes less than a fortnight before Kerala goes to the panchayat polls, and political parties are debating the influence of religious leaderships on voters.
CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has been a severe critic of the church leadership in recent times, while finance minister Thomas Isaac has criticised the trend of ‘mixing faith and political choice’ of voters. The election commission added another element to the issue when it came down strongly against pastoral letters read out in churches to influence voters.
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Sacked professor T J Joseph, undergoing physiotherapy for his multiple injuries, has appealed to the appellate tribunal of the university, contesting the decision of the college to sack him. He was attacked for a controversial question he had incorporated in an internal examination for B Com students.
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