Even as the college's action drew flak from different quarters, Bishop of the dioceses George Punnakottil said the college was accused of being an accomplice in hurting the religious feelings of Muslims.
Dioceses in Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district today came out in support of Newman college's action in dismissing lecturer TJ Joseph, whose hand was chopped off allegedly by activists of radical outfit PFI, and blamed him for an "irresponsible act".
Even as the college's action drew flak from different quarters, Bishop of the dioceses George Punnakottil said the college was accused of being an accomplice in hurting the religious feelings of Muslims and its management had to take a decision to distance itself from the act of Joseph.
The attack on Joseph did not nullify the "crime" committed by him and such an "irresponsible" act cannot be expected from the lecturer, he said in a pastoral letter which would be read out in the churches during Sunday mass tomorrow.
"We stand for secularism and we do not want to offend anybody," the bishop said, adding, Joseph can approach court and the management would abide by its decision.
Joseph's right hand was chopped off allegedly by activists of Popular Front of India when he was returning from a church in Muvvattupuzha on July 4, for preparing a question paper with alleged derogatory reference to Prophet Mohammed.
The lecturer was suspended in March last after the Malayalam paper sparked an outcry from Muslim outfits and was sacked recently for hurting the sentiments of Muslims.
Joseph had appealed to the college management to reinstate him but unfazed by the wide criticism of its action, the management had refused to do so bluntly telling him that his explanations were not convincing at all.
The college management had also ignored a directive by the Mahatma Gandhi University Syndicate which had described the action on Joseph as a "naked violation" of the relevant provision of MG Act and asked the college to revoke the dismissal order.
Kerala education minister MA Baby had stated that yesterday that the government would intervene if the management was not willing to re-consider its decision.
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