Christians Under Attack

paper which allegedly hurt the sentiments of the muslim community, on Saturday said he would be approaching the University Apellate Tribunal, seeking to take him back into service.

Prof Joseph’s sister Stella told PTI that her brother had told her this morning: “I do not want do anything against the Catholic Church. But the college management is forcing me to go to the tribunal.”

Even after getting his dismissal order, Mr. Joseph had written to the college management to pardon him. “He has touched the feet of the Bishop and the manager of the college seeking pardon,” she said.

Stella, a nun, said she had also met the Bishop on July 2, before the attack, on behalf of her brother.

The family is also upset by the pastoral letter written by the Kothamangalam bishop against Mr. Joseph. Ms. Stella said the entire family was “upset” and “scared.”

Mr. Joseph is presently undergoing physiotherapy as his right hand was hacked by radical outfit Popular front of India (PFI) on July 4. He was taking pain killers to ease the pain and is recovering slowly, she said.

Though the college management is adamant about its stand on the dismissal, the Syndicate of the Mahatma Gandhi University has found that the action against the professor was “gross violation of procedures”.

The management had been asked “take appropriate further steps in accordance with law, justice and equity.” Mr. Joseph said his salary was his only source of income to sustain his family and his 25-year record as a teacher had been unblemished.

Mr. Joseph, who was teaching Malayalam literature, was first suspended after the question paper row earlier this year and dismissed from service on September 1 on the ground that he had hurt the religious sentiments of a community.

http://www.thehindu.com