Priya Varghese appointment as Kannur University Assistant Professor is subject to outcome of appeal: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a challenge to the appointment of Priya Varghese as an Assistant Professor at Kannur University..Justices JK Maheshwari and KV Viswanathan also made it clear that her appointment would be subject to the outcome of the appeals..Two appeals have been filed in the matter before the top court, one by the UGC and another by Dr. Joseph Skariah, a rival candidate who was ranked just below Varghese in the list of candidates who were considered for the Assistant Professor post..The Supreme Court today sought the replies of Priya Varghese, the Kannur University and the Kerala State Higher Education Department in the matter. Further Dr. Skariah was asked to respond to the UGC's appeal, while the UGC was directed to respond to Dr. Skariah's appeal. .Varghese is married to KK Ragesh, who is the private secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Her appointment as an Assistant Professor at Kannur University garnered much media attention after the appointment was challenged by Dr. Joseph Skariah before the Kerala High Court. In November last year, a single-judge of the High Court held that Varghese did not have the requisite teaching experience to be appointed to the post. Varghese challenged this ruling before a division bench of the High Court..In an order passed last month, the division bench of the High Court said that her candidature could be considered after also factoring the period spent by Varghese in pursuing her PhD under the faculty development program and the time spent on deputation as the Director of Student Services of the National Service Scheme of Kannur University.In the same ruling, the division bench had also made critical observations about the media attention that the case received while it was being adjudicated before the single-judge..Media must be mindful of harm to litigants while reporting oral remarks by judges: Kerala High Court in Priya Varghese case.The UGC and Dr. Skariah has now filed appeals challenging this division bench decision. The appeal by Dr. Skariah has been filed through advocate Atul Shankar Vinod.