Within 48 hours of Kalyani Mathivanan returning to the Vice-Chancellor’s chamber after obtaining an interim stay of the Madras High Court order removing her from office in Supreme Court, seven senior Syndicate members of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) have declared revolt against her “to protect the institution.”
Putting up a united front, the Syndicate members decided to boycott Dr. Kalyani Mathivanan and her meetings till the Governor’s office and State government intervened “to save the university’s image, academic ambience and reputation.”
The university has been in a state of uncertainty ever since the Madras High Court set aside her appointment on June 26.
Dr. Mathivanan later approached the SC and obtained an interim stay. She returned to the campus on Monday to a rousing reception with her supporters bursting crackers and putting up ‘amma’ hoardings and posters.
The Syndicate members who have raised a banner of protest are M. Rajarajan, R. Kannan, K. Pitchumani, V. Venkataraman, K. Selvakumar, P. Periyakaruppan and Murali Pakshirajan.
Speaking to The Hindu on behalf of his colleagues on Wednesday, Mr. Rajarajan, Principal, Cardamom Planters’ Association College, Bodinayakanur, said that they were against the working style, policies, vindictiveness and high-handedness of Dr. Kalyani Mathivanan.
“We boycotted her arrival on July 7. What happened on that day was too much and we must remember that MKU is an educational institution. We are united in our resolve to save the university and restore academic ambience,” Dr. Rajarajan said. They will shortly meet the Governor, Higher Education Minister and Secretary to register their protest.
“As a first step, we are ready to resign from all Syndicate sub-committees. Unless she adheres to the advice of the Syndicate, there is no point in continuing,” he said.
Dr. Rajarajan accused her of being vindictive, especially against senior faculty member S. Krishnaswamy.
“Actually, I was a member of the committee formed by her to enquire into alleged misappropriation of funds. Being a science professor myself, I know how research projects work in the university. Last month, when I was in the US, she removed me from the committee to get a report against Dr. S. Krishnaswamy,” he alleged.
The syndicate members, he said, were also against the recent appointments and they demanded a CB-CID enquiry into the allegations of corruption.
“Our fight is not against an individual but to stop vindictive attitude. The vindictive transfers and departmental action should stop. Since we have no other go, the hope is only on the Governor and State Government,” he also said.
Repeated attempts to contact Dr. Kalyani Mathivanan, the Registrar and Public Relations Officer for their reaction did not elicit any response.
