The Hindu : Front Page : Lecturer's dismissal irrational: Baby

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Sunday, Sep 05, 2010
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Lecturer's dismissal irrational: Baby

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Education Minister M.A. Baby has termed Friday's sacking of lecturer M.T. Joseph by the Newman College, Thodupuzha in Idukki district, irrational and a negative decision.

The lecturer's question in a Malayalam class test in March this year triggered a controversy and his palm was chopped off by miscreants.

“It's like chopping off his hand again,” Mr. Baby said here on Saturday.

“He committed a serious mistake, an error of judgment, in framing that question. The entire Kerala society condemned the framing of such a question. He was suspended. Then his hand was chopped off. This took the issue to another level and we realised how an irrational question irresponsibly framed by a lecturer can be made into a socio-cultural crisis,” Mr. Baby said.

As per the rules, a management has disciplinary authority over its teaching and non-teaching staff.

He can now appeal to the tribunal of the university concerned.

“I hope the tribunal takes a rational decision on this. He has been punished more than what his mistake merited,” Mr. Baby said.

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