In a significant administrative move amidst political turbulence, the Kerala state government has revoked the deputation of KS Anilkumar, the suspended registrar of Kerala University (KU). The decision, announced on Wednesday, permits Anilkumar to resume his duties as the principal of Sasthamcotta SD College.
A Controversial Suspension and Swift Government Intervention
This development arrives against the backdrop of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) facing a severe setback in the recent local body elections. The government's order came just a day before Anilkumar's petition, challenging his suspension, was scheduled for a hearing in the Kerala High Court on Thursday.
The controversy began in June 2025 when Anilkumar, as KU registrar, cancelled the permission for a programme organised by a private outfit linked to the Sangh Parivar at the university senate hall. The event was to have Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who is also the university chancellor, as the chief guest. Anilkumar cited the presence of a picture of 'Bharat Mata' on stage as the reason for the last-minute cancellation.
The Tug-of-War and Escalating Campus Unrest
Despite the denial of permission, the organisers proceeded with the event, and the Governor attended it, dismissing the law and order concerns raised by the police. Following this, the Governor sought a report from the Vice-Chancellor (VC) Mohanan Kunnummal. The report concluded that Anilkumar had no valid reason to cancel the previously granted nod and had insulted both the Governor and the VC. Based on this, VC Kunnummal suspended Anilkumar.
This suspension triggered a series of law and order issues on the university campus. Workers of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) frequently gheraoed the VC and blocked his vehicle. The situation grew more complex when the state government openly supported Anilkumar. Defying the VC's suspension order, the registrar continued in office and signed official files, leading to a protracted standoff.
Legal Battle and Political Repercussions
The conflict intensified with controversies over the authority of newly-appointed registrars-in-charge versus the suspended registrar. The matter eventually reached the High Court after Anilkumar filed a plea to quash his suspension. Both the university syndicate and the state government backed him. The state police also supported his stance, claiming that the entire Bharat Mata photo controversy was a result of Anilkumar's attempts to pre-empt a potential law and order problem.
The government's decision to cancel his deputation and reinstate him as a college principal is seen as a clear political statement, underscoring the ongoing friction between the state government and the Governor's office, especially in the wake of the LDF's poor performance in the local polls.
