The stand-off between Madurai Kamaraj University Vice-Chancellor Kalyani Mathivanan and Syndicate members got complicated further on Sunday.
Ever since the Vice-Chancellor returned to the university campus amidst fanfare on July 7 after getting an interim stay by the Supreme Court on the High Court order against her appointment, there has been opposition from seven Syndicate members and teachers’ associations who are critical of her “vindictive approach” towards staff and students.
On Sunday, Syndicate member Murali Pakshirajan, who was nominated by the Governor, announced that they would pursue the matter in Raj Bhavan and oppose crucial policy decisions taken by Dr. Mathivanan till she recognised that the Syndicate was the university’s highest decision-making body.
He told The Hindu: “It is regrettable that the Vice-Chancellor is adopting divide and rule policy. How can she take decisions on tenders, appointments and expenditure without consulting Syndicate members?,”
The seven syndicate members decided to oppose the Vice-Chancellor, especially after she wrote to the Governor to remove Dr. M. Rajarajan, Principal of Cardamom Planters College at Bodi, as MKU Syndicate member, a couple of days ago.
“Dr. Rajarajan was elected to the Syndicate from Academic Council. He got majority votes from various associations and seeking his removal from the Syndicate will be viewed seriously by all teachers’ associations and other Syndicate members,” Dr. Pakshirajan said, adding they had written to the Governor about the disturbing aspects on the MKU campus in the last 15 days.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rajarajan said on Sunday that he secured 84 votes in the Syndicate member election and had two more years to go. “I also wrote to the Governor that certain persons in the university are targeting me since I fought for genuine issues and to preserve the sanctity of the Syndicate,” he added.
Meanwhile, Madurai Kamaraj, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, Mother Teresa and Alagappa University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) said the faculty appointments made by Dr. Mathivanan last week were illegal.
“MUTA urges the Governor to prevail upon her to adhere to the democratic traditions of university governance. The State government should not remain a mute spectator to the ugly developments... The Vice-Chancellor should be removed,” S. Subbaraju, MUTA general secretary, said in a press statement issued here on Sunday.
