Kochi:
Kerala lecturer T J Joseph has said that he will take legal steps against Newman College management for dismissing him.
College Teachers' Association has come out in support of T J Joseph. They met the lecturer at his residence in Ernakulam on Sunday.
"Dismissing Joseph was like chopping off his other hand," said the spokesperson of the Teachers' association.
Joseph's right hand was chopped off by radicals of the Popular Front of India (PFI) outfit.
On Saturday, the management of the Christian-run New Man college informed T J Joseph that he was removed from his service effective from September 1 on the grounds of hurting religious sentiments of a certain community, college sources said.
Reacting to the management's decision, Joseph had earlier said it was an unexpected blow to him and his family.
Kerala's Education Minister MA Baby had earlier told NDTV that this is excessive use of authority by the college administration.
"Joseph can appeal at the University Tribunal and explore other legal means. We will provide him with all the help if he wants to seek legal recourse," said Baby.
PFI activists had hacked Joseph's right hand on July 4 while he was returning home with his family from a Church. They accused him of preparing a Malayalam question paper with alleged derogatory references to Prophet Mohammed.
So far 30 people have been arrested in connection with the attack.
The lecturer, whose severed hand was sutured, has injuries all over his body and is now recovering at his residence at Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district.
The college authorities had issued a show cause notice to Joseph asking why he should not be removed from service for hurting the religious sentiments of a section of people.
Though Joseph had replied to the notice, the management was not convinced.