Calicut University appoints registrar as interim DSU president amid staff concerns

Calicut University's Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran has handed over the interim leadership of the Department Students' Union (DSU) to the university registrar in an unusual administrative move. According to the official order, the decision was necessitated after no faculty member came forward to accept the position of DSU president.

The Vice-Chancellor's directive explicitly cited the "unacceptable behaviour of union officials" as the primary reason faculty members have declined to take charge. The order represents a significant intervention in student union governance at the institution, reflecting broader concerns about conduct standards within the student leadership body.

This development underscores the tensions between the university administration and its student union, with the appointment of a registrar to oversee student union affairs marking a departure from conventional faculty-led oversight models. The temporary arrangement raises questions about how long the measure will remain in place and what conditions might prompt the restoration of traditional faculty leadership.

The decision comes as universities across India grapple with questions about student conduct, administrative oversight, and the balance between student autonomy and institutional accountability in extracurricular bodies.