PhD registration of Arunkumar cancelled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The Kerala University Syndicate has approved its sub-committee’s recommendation to cancel the PhD registration of V A Arunkumar, son of Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan, at its meeting held here on Tuesday.The sub-committee, which was appointed to look into the PhD controversy, had found that Arunkumar was not eligible to be exempted from appearing for the qualifying entrance exam for PhD registration which was usually granted to persons with seven years of teaching experience.The previous pro-Left KU Syndicate had found that Arunkumar was not eligible for the exemption. However, Arunkumar had moved the High Court and the court had upheld the Syndicate’s decision. However, the court had asked the Syndicate to appoint a sub-committee and conduct an inquiry.Arunkumar had gone for appeal and the case is still pending with the Supreme Court.By this time, the new pro-UDF Syndicate had come into being. The sub-committee had members from both the UDF and the LDF. However, the sub-committee found that though Arunkumar was appointed as teacher in a college, he had joined the IHRD and had no requisite teaching experience.The Research Standing Committee had approved the decision of the sub-committee and forwarded the agenda to the Syndicate meeting.