Date:09/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/09/stories/2008110950240200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Call to resolve college issue

Special Correspondent

MADURAI: The Madurai Kamaraj-Manonmaniam Sundaranar-Mother Teresa-Alagappa University Teachers’ Association (MUTA), on Saturday, urged the State Government to appoint a Special Officer for the American College here till the impasse between the two groups was resolved.

Members of the MUTA staged a dharna demanding the appointment of a Special Officer for the college immediately so as to ensure smooth administration till the imbroglio came to an end.

Speaking at the dharna, K. Sadasivam, MUTA Zone-I secretary, said that students and staff of American College should not be affected because of problems between two groups.

S. Vivekanandan, general secretary, and S. Thiagarajan, Zone-II president, made a joint appeal to the State Government to intervene in the issue and restore peace on campus.

According to Mr. Thiagarajan, the Government can intervene in a minority-run college issue as per G.O. 1021 “and it can take direct control when the prevailing situation is affecting students and staff members.”

“There are precedents for this. When there was an impasse in Mannar Tirumalai Naicker College here, the Government intervened for a while till the issue was resolved,” he said. The association also made an appeal for proper payment of salary to the staff members of American College.