TMC seeks CB-CID probe into varsity affair

By Our Special Correspondent

SALEM, AUG. 26. The Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) has urged the Chief Minister, Mr. Karunanidhi, to institute a CB-CID enquiry into the alleged irregularities committed by the Periyar University administration in granting affiliation to new courses.

According to the Salem district president of the TMC, Mr. K. Mariappan, he along with the former MP of Rasipuram Parliamentary constituency, Mr. K. Kandasamy, has already appealed to the Governor to constitute an enquiry commission to probe who is at fault, the Vice-Chancellor or the Registrar.

Mr. Mariappan said that following the direction of the Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, to set up a Syndicate sub-committee to look after the duties of Vice-Chancellor from August 29, the TMC had dropped its proposal to stage a demonstration in front of the University on August 28.

He charged that due to false information provided to the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Veerapandi S. Arumugham, the latter had been defending the University administration. The Minister had alleged that ``certain motivated persons had launched an orchestrated campaign to slander the University administration.'' In the light of the recent happenings, the Minister must assume the moral responsibility to refurbish the image of the University, Mr. Mariappan said.

The Governor, yesterday, directed the Registrar of the varsity to set up a Syndicate sub-committee to run the affairs of the university from August 29, pending the constitution of the Search Committee to find the suitable candidate for the post of Vice- Chancellor, whose term expires on August 28. There has been a delay in the formation of the Search Committee, as no word has come yet from the Governor's office about the Government nominee. Already, two members have been elected by due procedure (Mr. Natesan of Anna University, elected by the members of the Syndicate, and, Dr. Balasubramaniam of Madras University, elected by the members of the Senate).

Even after more than a month since the election of these members, the Government is yet to name the third member who would act as its convenor. However, there is no timeframe within which the Search Committee has to be constituted and the convenor named. University sources say the Governor could choose an appropriate time for the nomination of the convenor.

Meanwhile, a note issued from the University, said that in the place of Registrar, Dr. N. Velusamy, Prof. P. Rajendran, Controller of Examinations, has been appointed as the Registrar- Incharge.

There has been a running feud between the Vice- Chancellor and the Registrar over the way the permission has been accorded to new courses. While the Vice-Chancellor has taken the stand that the Registrar has violated the rules of the University by acting arbitrarily and overstepping his powers, the Registrar has dismissed the accusations by stating that all his action has got the approval or acquiescence of the Vice-Chancellor.

The issue came to a boil when certain Syndicate members, said to be tilted towards the Registrar, went around the town decrying the ``irregularities'' committed by the Vice- Chancellor.

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Section  : Southern States
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