Kerala Governor stays appointment of CPM leader's wife in Kannur University

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has stayed the appointment of Associate Professor in the Department of Malayalam in Kannur University. Priya Varghese Priya is the wife of the Chief Minister's private secretary and former MP KK Ragesh.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has stayed the appointment of Priya Varghese as Associate Professor in the Department of Malayalam, Kannur University (KU). Priya Varghese is the wife of K. K. Rajesh, former legislator and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's private secretary. KK Ragesh, a leader from Kannur, is also a former Rajya Sabha MP.

After Priya Varghese was appointed to the Malayalam department of Kannur University, allegations of her getting the post, despite other candidates securing higher grades in terms of the needed qualifications, came to the fore.

The Governor had sought a report over an alleged irregularity in the appointment of Dr Priya Varghese as an associate professor in the Malayalam department.

Reacting to the Governor's decision to stay her appointment, Priya Varghese said, "This is the result of a political drama." In a post on Facebook, she said, "The drama began from the time my name was shortlisted by the university."

She alleged that a Congress Senate member complained against her to the Vice Chancellor (VC). She said she also received threat calls from the media a day before her interview.

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"The major issue raised and discussed was about my FDP research period cannot be considered as teaching experience. The UGC Notification in 2018 said : The period of time taken by candidates to acquire M.Phil. and/or Ph.D. Degree shall not be considered as teaching/ research experience to be claimed for appointment to the teaching positions," the post read.