In connection with SFI state secretary P.M. Arsho’s forged “passing of the examinations” and SFI leader K. Divya’s guest lecturer job based on “forged experience certificate”, it looks like, CPM rolls up the sleeves to protect them. They have the usual justification that there are all out attempts to tarnish the image of SFI. Meanwhile, CPM leader and LDF (CPM-led ruling Left Democratic Front) convener E.P. Jayarajan stated that Divya opted a wrong path.
That CPM is in an all out attempt to protect their young leader was evident when the College Governing Council declared on June 9 that Arsho’s passing the examination was a mere fault in the software of the National Informatics Centre (NIC). But, the question remains, how come the college authorities carry it in its website without checking the related documents properly. On June 7 morning, Principal V.S. Joy told the media men that Arsho had paid examination fees; if examination fees paid, result would be generated. He added that the mentioning of “Passed” is a technical error. Then came Arsho’s FB post which asked the authorities to show the receipt of the payment of examinations and evidence for the application submitted for the examinations. Then Principal’s somersaults: ‘We have conducted detailed investigation and have found out that Arsho had not paid the examination fee. Detailed report would be submitted before the Minister for Higher Education.”
Now, in the case of K. Vidya’s forged experience certificate case, investigation is at a snail’s pace. It is reported that she had presented the copies of the forged certificate before both colleges where she had worked as guest lecturer. But, where is the original ? Police appears to be evading the investigation into it. College seal (stamp), logo and signature are found to be forged. They should be proved scientifically and originals should be submitted before the court. Otherwise case will not stand in the court. It is alleged that police provided lot of time for the accused to destroy the evidences. Forging the documents is an unbailable offence. But, it appears, investigation does not carry that much seriousness. Vidya should have been arrested the day Maharaja’s College Principal stated that the experience certificate was a forged one. Place of offence comes under the jurisdiction of Agali Police Station, near Attappadi, Palakkad. Therefore, case is supposed to be transferred to there; but, there is no sign of it so far.
Interestingly, now, the reports suggest that Vidya had participated in the degree examination valuation camp of Kannur varsity. 1st Semester Malayalam in November, 2021 and 2nd and 4th semester Malayalam in April, 2022 were the camps she took part. Now, there are demands for the revaluation of the papers she had examined. Obviously there is a question if she would pay back the salaries she accepted. Ernakulam Central Police has registered the case against Vidya, on the basis of the complaints received by Maharaja’s College, under IPC 465, 468 and 471. Forging the documents and submitting the forged documents with a deliberate intention to cheat are the offences charged. They can invite the imprisonment to the extent of 7 years.
It is suspected that the authorities, of Karinthalam Government College in Kasaragod and Patharippala Government in Palakkad, did not scrutinise the experience certificate properly. The authorities of Attappadi alone had the suspicion during the interview. Maharaja’s College Principal has said, Divya had claimed in the experience certificate she was a guest lecturer in Maharaja’s College in 2018; but at that time her post graduate examinations result was not even declared. She worked in two colleges for one year each. Still the documents were not properly examined. Usually, when a candidate appears for interview, originals will be scrutinised, copies kept in the file and originals are returned. Now, it looks like, documents are not checked and appointments are done according to political recommendations. Governing Council of Kasaragod Karinthalam College met and resolved to ascertain the genuineness of the documents. They have sent the scanned certificate to Maharaja’s College. They will take decision about lodging the complaint only after getting the reply from Maharaja’s College.
Meanwhile, there are reports that according to the preliminary inquiry carried out by Kochi City Police, signature and seal seen on the experience certificate are fake. Seal is akin to the college seal. It appears to be fabricated somewhere. The signature and seal of Vice Principal Prof. Jayamol are different from the forged documents. She has reportedly disowned the signature while interacting with the police. It is suspected that the forgery was done on the basis of a scholarship certificate Vidya got some time back. Police have yet to confirm it.
And, reports suggest that Vidya is underground. There are reports that Maharaja’s College Principal has been asked not to speak out about this controversial issue. It is in the light of the situation under which he had to change his stand in connection with Arsho issue. Arsho has alleged that Course Coordinator of Archaeology Department was behind the issue. Therefore, there were news that he would be removed from the position. But, the college authorities have denied this.
But, a significant question remains: Arsho’s controversial result was declared in March 2023. Why did he fail to report and protest against it for three months !
Now, Higher Education Minister and CPM leader R. Bindu says, the issue is not Arsho’s fault. Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener and senior CPM leader E.P. Jayarajan says, Vidya is not an SFI leader. Industries Minister and senior CPM leader P. Rajeev says the same.
BJP state president K. Surendra said that CPM conspires to protect SFI state secretary.
An interesting question is, how many police stations will have to initiate cases against Vidya. She had presented the copies of a single experience certificate to the colleges in Attapadi, Kasaragod Karinthalam and Palakkad Patharippalam. Therefore, investigation should be conducted by a special investigation team. But, police keep mum in this respect. Now, since her PhD admission, in Sree Sankaracharya University of Sankrit, Kaladi near Kochi, is in a chaotic jumble, the significance and seriousness of the case mount further. Divya’s research guide Dr. Bichu X. Malayil gave up the guide-ship. He has reportedly said that ‘the guilty should not be protected by the teachers’ is his policy. Her PhD admission in 2019 is reported as the result of the sabotage of reservation rules.
The SC-ST cell in the university had reported that Vice Chancellor’s office had interfered in Divya’s admission. Ten seats had been notified for PhD in Malayalam. Vidya could not secure a place in the list after entrance examinations and the presentation of the proposal. The varsity decided to admit 5 more people as Supernumerary. University did not accept it. It sought explanation from the Malayalam department. Department replied that if good proposal comes, on top of the notified seats, the professor is authorised to admit them as Supernumerary if they hold Junior Research Fellowship. Accordingly, the first 10and three Supernumeraries were admitted. Divya’s name was not in the list. Then she sought the details of the admission from the university under Right To Information (RTI). VC’s office instructed to reply Divya’s query the same day. K. Dinu, a ST student who was in the rank list, had also filed the RTI inquiry. But, reply to him was reportedly delayed and he got the reply after Divya got. Divya filed the RTI documents before the High Court. Court ordered to consider her case legally. When Vidya brought the Court order, The Section Officer raised legal objections and she had to go back. It is reported that political intervention worked at this point of time.
According to the existing rule, when five students are admitted for PhD, one SC or ST was supposed to be considered. It was applied in the case of the first 10 admissions. But, it was reportedly sabotaged in the case of the last five. If one SC or ST student was considered from among the last five, Divya would have lost it as her rank was 15. Dinu filed a complaint before the SC-ST Cell of the university. The cell conducted the enquiry and has reportedly found that reservation procedure had been sabotaged. Ambedkar Study Centre in the Kalati University campus has demanded an inquiry into this alleged anomaly. There are unconfirmed reports that minutes of the Select Committee meeting of December 16, 2019 is leaked. Now, there are demands for the revaluation of the written examination in which Divya reportedly secured first rank. As her performance was not good in the interview, suspicion is quite normal.
Meanwhile, Malayalam channel Janam TV reports, the Vice Chancellor during the period of Divya’s PhD admission has told the students that Divya’s admission was against the varsity rules, but owing to court order.
It is a day light-like reality that CPM finds it tough to control SFI. Maharaja’s episode is one among them. The influence of alcohol, Kattakkada Christian College model impersonation, allegation of malpractices, forgery, passing the examinations sans appearing, etc. are creating headaches for the CPM leadership. Now, CPM state secretary M.V. Govindan supports Arsho stating that conspiracies against SFI cause the allegations against the young leader. It is hardly six months since SFI’s Thiruvananthapuram president and secretary were reportedly caught on camera while engaging in alleged drunken dance. When those visuals were spread in social media, leadership had to remove the ‘leaders’ from their positions. During the 1st Pinarayi Government, SFI leader’s cheating in the PSC examination, in Thiruvananthapuram, shook the party apparatus. Two SFI leaders reportedly used hi-tech methods and modern gadgets to cheat in the civil police officer test. Leadership had no other alternative but to take actions against them. An SFI girl’s attempt to suicide owing to SFI leaders’ alleged mental torture occurred in University College, Thiruvananthapuram, where SFI rules the roost. Later on, she left the campus and joined another college. A girl leader of AISF (student wing of CPI) had complained against Arsho for kicking her and insulting her by her caste name. Nimisha Raju, the plaintiff in this case and state joint secretary of AISF, has blasted Arsho for submitting an affidavit before the court that she (Nimisha) had stated that she had withdrawn her complaint. She told the media that she has never thought of withdrawing. Recently an SFI man was arrested for drug trafficking. He was telling before the camera what organisational responsibility he held in SFI.
The students’ wing of the ‘big brother’ in LDF think that they are ‘free for all’ as they are the new gen face of the party (CPM) and none on earth can question them and they do enjoy all protections from the big brothers.
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