Kottayam: The Mahatma Gandhi University on Saturday issued a memo to the Church run Newman College at Thodupuzha asking the management to reconsider its decision to terminate the service of Prof T J Joseph, for preparing a controversial question paper.

The memo in this regard was issued by university vice chancellor, Dr Rajan Gurukkal on Saturday, varsity sources said.
    
Joseph's right hand was hacked by the radical outfit Popular front of India(PFI) for allegedly hurting the sentiments of  a certain community.
   
The lecturer, whose hand was sutured back, is currently on the road to recovery.
  
The University syndicate which had met on September 9 had asked the college management to re-consider its decision. After a meeting of the Syndicate, the Vice-chancellor had said the varsity forum was of the view that the management did not follow the due procedures while dismissing Joseph from service.

Considering the procedural flaws and humanitarian consideration, the University would be asking the college management to reconsider the action against Joseph, Gurukkal had said.

Joseph had also written to the management to reinstate him in service, but the adamant management is standing firm on its decision.

Dealing him another blow, the Kothamangalam bishop issued a pastoral letter justifying the college management's stand which was read out in 120 churches during the Sunday mass.
     
Joseph, who was teaching Malayalam literature, was first suspended after the question paper row earlier this year and dismissed from service on September 1.
 
The College authorities had justified their action, holding that it was necessary to assert the secular credentials of the educational institutions run by the church.
   
Writers and academics, mostly of pro-Left circles have rallied round Joseph, condemning the college's action as harsh and inhuman as he had suffered physical assault from fanatics.

Tags: Kerala lecturer, Lecturer's hand chopped off, Newman College Kerala, PFI activists in Kerala