Overview
- Justice K. Babu barred the arrest of Dr. C. N. Vijayakumari until November 19 and directed her to implead the complainant as an additional respondent.
- Sreekaryam police registered an FIR under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act alleging she addressed researcher Vipin Vijayan by his caste name.
- Vijayakumari denies wrongdoing, telling the court the complaint is fabricated and politically motivated and asserting she intervened after participants were muted or removed during the hybrid defence.
- In a separate writ, she alleges pressure from university officials and police to approve the thesis; the High Court sought instructions and listed the petition for November 17.
- Kerala University’s acting Vice-Chancellor referred the award decision to the Syndicate and sought the defence video, while the Higher Education Minister and the Governor requested reports.