Arsho was promoted in violation of attendance norms, MGU admits

The Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) Syndicate has admitted that Maharaja College Ernakulam authorities erred in admitting PM Arsha, former State Secretary of the Students Federation of India (SFI), to the seventh semester integrated master’s program in Archeology and Material Cultural Studies in violation of attendance norms.

In an order dated June 8, 2026, the university authorities said that due diligence was not exercised by the Principal-in-Charge in promoting Mr. Arsh to the seventh semester in violation of the regulations prescribed for the academic programme. The director should have been more vigilant in dealing with such issues, the order said.

The matter snowballed into controversy after the Save University Campaign Committee asked the governor, who is also chancellor of state universities, in September 2024 to investigate alleged breaches of attendance standards that allowed Mr Arsho to progress in the course he is attending.

The Principal-in-Charge initially submitted a report claiming that he had the required attendance in the sixth semester. However, the official later submitted a report pointing out that Mr. Arsho had only 10% attendance during his sixth semester. He was given 27 days of attendance at university union and college union activities. The union said that the maximum relaxation of attendance that could be granted per semester was only 15 days and therefore the relaxation of attendance extended to Mr. Arsho was against the regulations.

Published – 10 June 2026 9:00 PM IST