Promotion denied for KU teacher who joined strike

Kochi: The denial of promotion to a private college teacher affiliated with Kannur University and delay in promotion for many other teachers who joined the national strike against Union govt in Jan and Nov 2020 have sparked a row.
The deputy director of collegiate education took the decision, reportedly due to the absence of any directive from the state govt or university regarding promotions for those who joined the strike. Although the issue was brought to the university's attention a month ago, neither the syndicate nor the vice-chancellor issued any response.
In Kerala, when a strike day is declared as dies non, employees who participate without prior permission lose pay and service benefits for that day. However, this typically does not affect their pension or promotion eligibility. Since the state govt did not declare dies non for the 2020 national strike, the deputy director's office cited the lack of formal guidance as the reason for denying promotions.
"This is an unprecedented and deeply anti-worker move. The govt and university appear to be working together to deny basic rights to employees," said Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (KPCTA) state president Premachandran Keezhoth. He said the association formally lodged its protest with the vice-chancellor and demanded immediate action to ensure time-bound promotions for all eligible faculty.
KPCTA state secretary Shino P Jose also criticized the university's stance, saying, "While other universities have not penalised staff for participating in the same strike, Kannur University is selectively targeting its teachers. It's unjust, considering that their salaries and benefits were already withheld."
In a related development, the UDF Senators' Forum on Sunday submitted a letter to the chancellor and governor, alleging that the recent appointments of faculty deans at Kannur University were made in violation of the university statute. They demanded that these appointments, which did not follow prescribed legal procedures, be annulled and new appointments made in accordance with statutory norms.
"According to Chapter XII 4, Chapter 1(2)(e) and Chapter XLIV of the University Statute, only professors from the university's own departments are eligible to become faculty deans. However, the 10 faculty deans currently appointed include professors from outside the university and even some who are retired," said Shino P Jose, who also serves as the convener of the UDF Senators' Forum.