Campaign Committee Demands Removal of SFI Leader from University Syndicate
The Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) has launched a formal effort to remove Student Federation of India (SFI) state joint secretary Tony Kuriakose from his position as a member of the MG University syndicate. The committee has written urgent letters to both Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, demanding immediate action against the student leader.
Grounds for Removal: Attendance Violations and Legal Issues
According to the petition filed by SUCC, Tony Kuriakose faces removal primarily due to serious violations of university regulations. The SFI activist was officially removed from the class roll after failing to attend a single class following his admission to the first-year MA programme in the Department of Gandhian Studies.
The committee emphasized that this administrative action automatically makes Kuriakose ineligible to continue serving on the university syndicate. University regulations clearly state that any student removed from class rolls cannot maintain membership in the syndicate of the same institution.
Adding to the controversy, SUCC revealed that Kuriakose was involved in a case registered by Gandhi Nagar Police in Kottayam. Along with former SFI activist P M Arsho, he stands accused of publicly harassing, threatening, and making casteist remarks against a female student leader from the All India Students Federation (AISF) during the MG University Senate election.
Committee Calls Appointment a 'Disgrace' to University
The Save University Campaign Committee has strongly condemned the continued presence of Tony Kuriakose in the university syndicate. In their communication to state authorities, SUCC described the appointment of such a student activist as a disgrace to the university named after Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation.
The committee argued that Kuriakose has neither the right nor the merit to remain as a syndicate member given the serious nature of the allegations against him and his violation of basic academic requirements. SUCC maintains that allowing someone removed from class rolls to participate in university governance sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the institution's credibility.
The petition represents growing concerns about political influence in educational institutions and raises important questions about the qualifications required for positions in university administration. The committee's action highlights ongoing tensions between student political organizations and educational reform advocates in Kerala's higher education landscape.
