MADURAI: The Madurai Kamaraj University Faculty Association (MUFA) has strongly condemned the dropping of two names of university’s Syndicate members by the Tamil Nadu Governor Mr.R.N.Ravi from the syndicate committee to look after the day-to-day affairs of the varsity during the absence of Vice-Chancellor Prof.Dr.J.Kumar who is now on medical leave.
A press statement was issued by MUFA here on 8th July 2023 appealing to the Governor and to the government to uphold the autonomy and prestige of MKU Syndicate.
“On June 30th 2023, an extraordinary MKU Syndicate meeting was held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Prof.Dr.J.Kumar, to consider constituting a Syndicate committee to look after the daily affairs of university functioning in the absence of Vice-Chancellor who took leave on medical grounds. The Syndicate, without any dissent, had unanimously passed a resolution to form a committee with five members including Higher Education Secretary, Law Secretary, Prof.Vasudevan, Prof.Nagarathnam and Dr.Pushparaj. But to everybody’s surprise, the Governor had nominated only 3 Syndicate members and dropped two names – Prof.Nagarathinam and Dr.Pushparaj from the committee. We believe that the prerogative of our university Syndicate was blatantly overruled by the Governor,” the MUFA has said in the press release issued yesterday.
EROSION OF AUTONOMY OF MKU SYNDICATE:
The Madurai Kamaraj University Faculty Association (MUFA) took strong exception to the Governor’s action of dropping the two Syndicate members Dr.Pushparaj and Prof.Nagarathinam from the committee by citing a reason. The MUFA office-bearers are Dr.A.Velanganni Joseph (president), Dr.B.Padma (Vice-president), Dr.S.Pushparaj (general secretary), Dr.V.Emayavarmban (joint secretary) and Dr.P.Rajkumar (treasurer).
In the press statement on 8th July 2023, the MUFA general secretary had pointed out that according to MKU Act, the Syndicate is an appellate administrative body of the university and there is no legal provision to change or modify the decision of MKU Syndicate.
“Only a few days back, the Governor had expressed his concern about the erosion of autonomy of syndicates of State universities. The decision taken now by the Governor to drop two names is against the very intention and concern he expressed. This decision and this instance of the Governor once again brings to light the autonomy of State universities is severely undermined by the interference of the Governor’s office,” the MUFA press statement had said.
The MUFA general secretary Dr.S.Pushparaj and association members have said that the exclusion of two members from the Syndicate committee would make the administration of MKU defunct because university cannot be run online through remote control from Chennai and Karaikudi. “So, we appeal to the Governor, to the government and Governor’s office to include the two local Syndicate members in the committee,” the MUFA has said.
