DLitt Row: Kerala University VC's Letter Confirms Governor Had Recommended Honorary Degree For President
NDTV
"... After returning, I have discussed with several members of Syndicate about the matter of conferring D.Litt Degree to his excellency the President of India. The members of the Syndicate turn (sic) it down," the handwritten letter dated December 7, 2021, read
A handwritten letter purportedly by Kerala University Vice-Chancellor V P Mahadevan Pillai came out in public domain on Saturday allegedly confirming that Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had recommended to confer an honorary DLitt degree on President Ram Nath Kovind. The letter also revealed that the VC, instead of convening a Syndicate meeting to decide on the matter, had merely "discussed" it with some Syndicate members and informed the Governor that the University Syndicate had turned down the proposal.
"... After returning, I have discussed with several members of Syndicate about the matter of conferring D.Litt Degree to his excellency the President of India. The members of the Syndicate turn (sic) it down," the handwritten letter dated December 7, 2021, read. The Governor's office has confirmed the facts contained in the letter. The VC has not reacted to the entire episode since the row erupted last month.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had earlier claimed that the Left-front government rejected the Governor's recommendation to confer DLitt on President Kovind, an allegation which was categorically rejected by state Higher Education Minister R Bindu. The Governor had earlier expressed his wish to step down as the Chancellor of universities in the state from December 8 last year, alleging political interference in their functioning.
After the VC's letter -- which appeared to have been scribbled on a plain paper -- came to light, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan alleged that the whole issue was the Vice-Chancellor's mistake.
