MADURAI
Against the backdrop of the unravelling audiotape scandal involving an Assistant Professor of a Madurai Kamaraj University-affiliated college, the university on Tuesday issued a circular to all its staff warning them of stringent action if they spoke to media or participate in protests.
According to the circular issued by the Registrar’s office, the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, applicable to all the staff as per MKU’s Statute, refrain the employees from talking to the media or participating in protests either inside or outside the university premises in a manner that will bring disrepute to the institution.
A section of associations termed the circular as an intimidatory tactic to prevent employees from unionising and speaking on the issues affecting the university.
S. Suresh, Joint Secretary of Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers' Association and Convenor of University Coordination Committee, which is a coalition of five staff associations, said that the circular was unwarranted as those from MKU staff associations like the Joint Action Council – MKU only demanded a fair investigation into the audiotape scandal and action against those involved, even if they are senior officials.
Importantly, he said that the circular will also indirectly deter the staff members from providing information to the one-member Commission appointed by the Governor to investigate the scandal.
“While the Commission has asked individuals and staff associations to come forward and provide details on the issue, the university has sent this circular, which will make the employees hesitate,” he said.
Voicing similar concerns, R. Murali, secretary of the Save MKU Coalition and former Principal of Madura College, also questioned the timing of the circular.
“It makes us wonder if the university administration has anything to hide in the audiotape scandal and therefore they are afraid of its employees speaking out,” he said.
The university also transferred S. Muthiah and P. Murugan, the President and Secretary of MKU Administrative Staff Association (MKUASA), who participated in a recent demonstration in the university regarding the audiotape scandal, to two constituent colleges of the institution.
MKU Vice-Chancellor P.P. Chellathurai said that it was a routine administrative transfer and had nothing to do with the recent controversy. “We needed some senior administrative staff in the two constituent colleges,” he said.
Refuting the allegations that the circular was an intimidatory tactic, he said that the employees were only reminded of the existing rules.
“When a CB-CID and one-man Commission enquiry is in progress, it is very unfortunate that a few people from some associations are throwing baseless allegations against the university and its officials to the media,” he said.
He said the circular had no bearing on the one-man Commission enquiry. “Staff are free to approach the Commission,” he said.
Meanwhile, the University Coordination Committee staged a demonstration here on Tuesday evening on the audiotape scandal. The committee said that only a judiciary-monitored investigation could bring out the real truth on the issue.
