Registrar takes temporary charge of Calicut University DSU presidency
The University of Calicut appointed the registrar to temporarily lead the department students’ union after the previous president stepped down amid unrest. The decision followed reports that no faculty member was willing to assume the post due to behaviour concerns within the DSU.
Key takeaways
- The registrar of the University of Calicut has been appointed as the temporary president of the DSU.
- The appointment followed a decision by the Vice-Chancellor due to a lack of willing faculty to lead the DSU.
- The previous DSU president resigned amid concerns linked to campus unrest in 2025.
What Happened
The University of Calicut, located at its main campus in Tenhipalam, Malappuram district, has placed the registrar, C.D. Sebastian, in temporary charge of the department students’ union (DSU) presidency. The move was formalised by an order issued on August 23 by the Dean of Students’ Welfare, K. Fazalurahman, and endorsed by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, P. Raveendran.
The reason given for appointing a temporary president is that none of the university’s teachers were willing to take on the DSU presidency due to what authorities described as the unacceptable behaviour of some DSU officials.
The DSU is described as the elected body representing students from across teaching departments on the Tenhipalam campus. Previously, P. Sivadasan, a professor in the Department of History, was named DSU president. He later informed authorities that he could not accept the post because he is currently serving as the Head of the Department of Political Science and as general secretary of the South Indian History Congress, in addition to his regular academic duties.
Why It Matters
The registrar’s temporary charge marks a shift in leadership for the DSU amid indications of internal disagreements and concerns about student union conduct. The change comes at a time when the university is contending with disputes within student bodies and the absence of willing faculty leadership for the DSU presidency.
Background
The DSU’s leadership has faced controversy in the recent past, including an incident during DSU polls in 2025 that purportedly involved a ruckus raised by leaders associated with the Muslim Students’ Federation (MSF). The then DSU president, V.A. Shahana, quit her post following that period of unrest. DSU officials and a university secretary have disputed charges surrounding the alleged misconduct, with one official describing the charges as baseless and noting that no teacher had officially leveled such allegations.
Key Facts
- The DSU is the elected student body for teaching departments at the university’s Tenhipalam campus.
- C.D. Sebastian, Registrar, University of Calicut, was given temporary charge of the DSU presidency.
- The order appointing the registrar was issued on August 23 by K. Fazalurahman, Dean, Students’ Welfare.
- Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran approved the decision due to a lack of faculty willingness to lead the DSU over concerns about past behaviour by DSU officials.
- Former DSU president P. Sivadasan cited multiple responsibilities that prevented him from accepting the post, including his role as Head of the Department of Political Science and his position as general secretary of the South Indian History Congress.
- The previous DSU president, V.A. Shahana, quit after unrest associated with the 2025 DSU polls.
What Happens Next
The available information does not outline a timeline for a permanent replacement or a further reshuffle of DSU leadership. The current arrangement places the registrar in charge while the university navigates leadership duties and student-union governance until a long-term decision is made.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
