Under criticism for its stand leading to suicide of suspended associate professor T J Joseph’s wife last week, the Catholic Diocese of Kothamangalam on Sunday relented to allow him to join duty before his retirement this month. Joseph, who taught Malayalam at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was in July 2010 attacked allegedly by activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) over a question paper he set. One of the questions allegedly insulted the Prophet. His hand was chopped off. After the attack, the college placed him under suspension. The University and the state government later directed that Joseph be reinstated. Last year, a court exonerated Joseph of charges of insulting the Prophet. But the Diocese did not take him back. Joseph, who is to retire on March 31, had been pleading to be be allowed to join duty at least on the day of retirement so that he gets full retirement benefits and salary arrears. Citing Joseph’s petition in the University Tribunal against his dismissal, the Diocese said it would wait for the verdict. Joseph’s argument that once reinstated, his petition would be void, was not accepted by the Church. With hope of his return to college shattered, his wife Salomi, 49, hanged herself at their house at Muvattupuzha last week. Several Christian organizations demanded a criminal case against the management. Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan also demanded reinstatement of Joseph. College manager and Diocese vicar-general Fr Francis Alappatt said the Diocese was revoking the dismissal on humane grounds. Joseph would be allowed to join college this week. “We would be taken back subject to conditions of the University and the government,’’ said Alappatt.
