SUBRAMONIAM Vs. VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is Professor and Head of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Kerala, Trivandrum. The 3rd respondent was a research student under him for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The prayer in the Original Petition is to restrain the University, the 2nd respondent, from conferring the degree upon the 3rd respondent. The Original Petition has now become infructuous as the degree has already been conferred upon the 3rd respondent as evidenced by Exts. P8 and P9 filed along with the reply affidavit. In view of the importance of the questions raised, I am of the view that the relevant provisions of the Kerala University Act, the Statutes and the Ordinance should be briefly discussed before I dispose of the petition.

(2.) S.5 of the Kerala University Act, 1974, confers various powers upon the University including the power under Clause.3 to bold examinations and to confer degrees and other academic distinctions on persons who have satisfied the requirements laid down thereunder.

(3.) Clause.8 of Chap.20 of the First Statutes of the Kerala University prescribes the procedural requirements for the conferment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. It says: