After hand, Kerala professor loses job too - Thiruvananthapuram - City - The Times of India

After hand, Kerala professor loses job too - Thiruvananthapuram - City - The Times of India

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The professor whose hand was cut off by Islamist fanatics two months ago for allegedly insulting the Prophet has been sacked by his college.

T J Joseph, a professor at Newman College, Thodu-puzha, withdrew a question alleged to be derogatory about the Prophet after Muslims groups protested. He apologized for it as well. But he was attacked by the radical Muslim group Popular Front of India. Now, he finds himself minus his hand and his job and, according to his sister, in "a state of shock".

"They ( Newman College authorities) unilaterally found him guilty," said the professor's sister Marie Stella. "Joseph is in a state of shock and does not even have the spirit to talk about it. He never thought that the college could do this... This is the severest of the seven punishments in the university's statute. Joseph had replied to the show-cause notice, and they did this despite his apology," Marie added. She said that his dismissal means he can't claim pension even after 25 years of service.

Kerala's education minister M A Baby termed Joseph's sacking as excessive use of authority and said he could appeal to the University Tribunal or explore other legal means. Although Joseph was suspended after the controversy broke out over the question he had set for an internal exam, the MG University, had revoked his suspension on July 24, taking into account his apology.

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