What happened between the Kerala University Sanskrit Department Head and the research scholar?

The Kerala University Sanskrit Department Head, CN Vijayakumari, has been accused of making casteist remarks against a research scholar, Vipin Vijayan, when she refused to sign his thesis after his open defense.

What are the allegations against the Kerala University Sanskrit Department Head?

The research scholar, Vipin Vijayan, has accused CN Vijayakumari of making casteist remarks against him since 2015 when he began his M.Phil. under her supervision. He also alleges that she refused to sign his thesis and made discriminatory comments in front of other teachers and students.

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University Head Accused of Casteist Remarks Against Research Scholar

Q: What action has been taken against the Kerala University Sanskrit Department Head?

The police have registered a case against CN Vijayakumari under sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which deal with intentionally insulting and abusing a member of the SC/ST community by caste name in public view. The offenses are non-bailable, and a detailed investigation will be conducted before deciding on her arrest.

9 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Head of Sanskrit Department booked for casteist remarks
Refused to sign research scholar's thesis after defense
Allegedly told scholar lower castes cannot learn Sanskrit

University Head Accused of Casteist Remarks Against Research Scholar

As of November 9th, 2025, the head of the Sanskrit Department at Kerala University, CN Vijayakumari, has been booked for allegedly making casteist remarks against a research scholar. According to the police, the case was registered based on a complaint filed by Vipin Vijayan, a research scholar in the department.

The complaint states that Vijayakumari refused to sign Vijayan's thesis after his open defense held on October 15th, 2025. When Vijayan later approached her to request the signature to complete his PhD process, the accused allegedly made casteist remarks in the presence of other teachers and students. The complaint also alleges that Vijayakumari had been making similar caste-based remarks since 2015, when Vijayan began his M.Phil. at the university under her supervision.

The police have registered a case under sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which deal with intentionally insulting and abusing a member of the SC/ST community by caste name in public view. Officials have stated that the offenses are non-bailable, and a detailed investigation will be conducted before deciding on Vijayakumari's arrest.