In a bizarre decision, the syndicate of Sree Sankara University of Sanskrit, Kalady, that had pulled up an associate professor abo-ut a student under her sup-ervision submitting a plagiarised thesis, was appro-ved by the same syndicate for the post of head of the philosophy department!
The syndicate both pull-ed up the professor and promoted her at the same meeting, on August 7.
The plagiarism by Sumi K.S. was detected in 2011 by Prof Kanthamani of Calicut University who received a synopsis as part of the open defence proce-ss. He informed one of the teachers of the department.
The head of the department, Abey Koshy, forwarded the email from Prof Kanthamani as a complaint to the vice-chancellor.
The university later entrusted an expert, Manipal University professor Sunder Sarukkai to verify the complaint and he confirmed that the thesis was plagiarised.
When the Lok Ayukta wrote to universities in Kerala to report plagiarism within their jurisdictions, the Sree Sankara University decided to act on it. But it did so in a most peculiar way: it asked the student to revise the plagiarised thesis and re-submit it!
The August 7 syndicate meeting decision to appoint the student’s guide, Sreekala M. Nair, as professor and HoD was allegedly done at the behest of a syndicate member who is holding the charge of pro vice-chancellor, according to sources.
When contacted, Vice-Chancellor Dr J. Prasad said that he believed in giving a second chance to the student who resorted to plagiarism!