Kerala High Court Division Bench Upholds Reinstatement of Kerala University Registrar

In a turn of legal fate, a division bench of the Kerala High Court has superseded an order of a single bench which had previously quashed the reinstatement of Dr. K Babu as Kerala University Registrar. The decision provides new hope to Dr. Babu's term as Registrar pending further judicial examination.

The division bench, which consisted of Justices A Muhamed Mustaque and Sophy Thomas, granted the state government's and Dr. Babu himself's appeals against the previous order of the single bench to cancel the Chancellor's reinstatement order. The Chancellor had directed the reinstatement of Dr. Babu despite there being charges of procedural irregularity in his initial appointment against him.

The reinstatement of the single bench had been opposed on the basis of absence of due process and propriety of reinstatement of Dr. Babu to the post of registrar. The division bench, however, observed that the case had to be reheard and directed the single bench to re-hear the case after hearing all the concerned parties.

This legislative about-face is a temporary relief to Dr. Babu and reflects the court's concern for fairness in procedure and the availability of all parties interested being represented fairly before it can render its judgment.

The controversy over reinstatement has been watched keenly by Kerala's academic and administrative community, considering the key position of the university registrar in terms of institutional management and academic administration. The High Court judgment is not regarding the substance of the allegations but emphasizes the call for a careful re-examination.

As the case now hangs in the balance before the bench of one judge for a hearing in extenso, the fate of Dr. Babu's appointment continues to hang in the balance but the latest verdict leaves the door ever so slightly ajar for his longer stay—at least for now.