Kerala | CPM leader's wife's questionable appointment sparks controversy

V Hikmatullah, who is ranked third in the PSC rank list, has handed over a complaint to the Governor and the Chief Minister against the appointment of MB Rajesh's wife Ninitha Kanicheriat as an assistant professor at the Kalady Sree Sankaracharya University.

The complainant stated that the authorities appointed Ninitha by overlooking his qualifications. He demanded that the appointment should be cancelled and a new interview should be conducted. Hikmatullah's complaint came soon after three experts on the interview board submitted a letter to Kalady University alleging that the rank list had been subverted.

The letter written by the subject experts of the interview board in connection with the Malayalam department Assistant Professor post in Kalady Sree Sankara Sanskrit University has been leaked.

The letter written by Dr. T Pavithran, Dr. Umar Tharammel and Dr. KM Bharathan has been released. The letter was written in the backdrop of the allegation that the rank list was sabotaged in order to appoint CPM leader MB Rajesh's wife Ninitha Kanichery. The letter was addressed to the University Vice Chancellor.

The letter pointed out that the current list is contradictory to the rank list published by them and that it would be wrong to appoint someone without sufficient teaching experience and publications to their credit. The applicant came first in the list ahead of other candidates although there were more qualified candidates. The letter also pointed out that if the University authorities wanted to appoint someone of their preference, the service of the subject experts was not needed. This action is against University ethics, it added.

The letter written by the subject experts also mentioned that the appointment discredits their moral responsibilities and affects the University's name and dignity. The subject experts asked the authorities to freeze this unauthorized appointment and implement the collective decision of the interview board. The letter was sent on January 31.