The Cochin University of Science and Technology [CUSAT] has issued an order reinstating renowned Intellectual Property (IP) expert, Prof. NS Gopalakrishnan as Ministry of HRD Chair for IP at School of Legal Studies, CUSAT. Prof. Gopalakrishnan was arbitrarily removed from the post last year by the CUSAT syndicate without consulting the Ministry of HRD and was asked to join back his parent institute, School of Legal Studies.
CUSAT Registrar, David Peter S, confirmed that Prof. Gopalakrishnan has been reinstated and orders relating to the same have been issued a week ago.
CUSAT’s application to convert it into an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) under the 12th Five Year Plan was pending before the Ministry of HRD. Recently, The Hindu reported that the Ministry was against upgrading CUSAT to IIEST due to arbitrary actions on its part. The Ministry had conveyed its discontent on Prof. Gopalakrishnan’s removal to the Kerala Chief Minister, Ommen Chandy when he met the Ministry officials for the upgradation of CUSAT to IIEST.
Around the same period during which Prof. Gopalakrishnan was removed from his post in 2013, National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur Ministry of HRD Chair Coordinator, Yogesh Pai was arbitrarily removed by the NLU-J administration from the post.
Speaking to Bar & Bench, Pai said,
“Prof. Gopalakrishnan is India’s foremost IP academic. His contribution to Indian IP thought is recognised beyond the borders. In my opinion, his reinstatement as the IP Chair is far too little and too late in comparison to the insurmountable loss and humiliation that the Indian academia suffered due to his removal. Cochin University should tender an unconditional apology on this issue. It is their privilege that Prof. NS Gopalakrishnan has chosen to be with the University in these testing times.
However, I am truly in awe of the firm stand taken by the MHRD against his removal. That is our only consolation. But isn’t it such a pity that in a nation where “Guru” – the giver of knowledge – is synonymous to “Brahman” -the ever unchanging reality, academics have to bear the brunt of gross institutional incompetence and arbitrary decisions that smacks of political highhandedness? Universities are not private fiefdoms, they are places where knowledge, freedom and humility must thrive!”
Immediately after these two removals, academicians from India and abroad had signed a protest petition against the politically motivated removal of Prof. Gopalakrishnan and Pai.
Prof. Gopalakrishan has been the face representing India at many IP related conferences across the globe. He is also the Director of Inter University Centre for IPR Studies at CUSAT.
Source : http://barandbench.com/