Date:31/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/31/stories/2008103160690300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Legal opinion is sought, says VC

At Academic Council meeting

MADURAI: Legal opinion has been sought on the continuation of former Principal of M.S.S. Wakf Board College, I. Ismail, as a Syndicate member of Madurai Kamaraj University.

Vice-Chancellor R. Karpaga Kumaravel announced this at the end of a 45-minute discussion at the Academic Council meeting held here on Thursday.

Members representing the Madurai Kamaraj-Manonmaniam Sundaranar-Mother Teresa-Alagappa University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) raised a point of order immediately after the meeting began and raised objections to Dr. Ismail’s continuation in the Syndicate, arguing that he was no longer the principal of the college from where he was elected.

Dr. Ismail, who was relieved from Wakf Board College on July 21 after he opted for voluntary retirement, is now Principal of Rama Prabha Arts and Science College at Arasanampatti in Dindigul.

K. Sadasivam and S. Ramaswamy, both Academic Council members, insisted on the discussion.

“We want to know the legitimacy of the particular member’s continuation in the Syndicate. Whether he ceases to be a member if he is no more Principal of Wakf Board College is the question,” Mr. Sadasivam said.

Intervening, P. M. Ajmal Khan, a former Syndicate member, argued that a member continued to be in the Syndicate only out of his position as Principal and not because of the college he represented.

“Dr. Ismail represents a college in Dindigul. So the point of order does not arise at all.”

Another member K. Subburaj suggested that the matter be referred to the Governor, but his idea was not welcomed by K. Krishnan, who said the university itself must take a final decision.

“If the college at Dindigul has postgraduate courses, he automatically becomes member of the Academic Council in his capacity as Principal of that college. So the university must check this fact.”

Dr. Ajmal Khan highlighted a precedent. When K. S. Sundararajan who retired from Saraswathi Narayanan College and joined a college at T. Kallupatti in 2002, he was allowed to remain as a Syndicate member.

Dr. Karpaga Kumaravel said the issue was thoroughly discussed at the Syndicate meeting held on September 28.

“We have unanimously decided to take legal opinion, and it is now awaited. The next Syndicate meeting will decide what should be done.”