Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday declined to comment on Governor P. Sadasivam’s decision, as Chancellor of universities in the State, to set up a Chancellor’s Council to address the serious issues plaguing the universities.
“No comments,” the Chief Minister said at his weekly Cabinet briefing when mediapersons asked him for his take on the council against the background of emerging controversy over the Governor’s action.
The Chief Minister, however, said that the universities in the State were doing a good job and had made notable achievements. However, some unfortunate developments had occurred in the universities and the government viewed those matters seriously. The government had issued clear directives to the universities on these issues.
High responsibilityMr. Chandy added that those occupying high posts in the universities should act responsibly and conduct in a manner befitting their positions. The universities should be functioning primarily for the students and those at the helm of universities had a heavy responsibility towards the students.
He denied that the positions such as that of the Vice Chancellors of the universities were being shared on political and communal lines and qualified people were not being appointed. Appointments were being made following rules and regulations, he maintained.
Asked about the CPI(M) Central Committee discussing party’s strategic failures, the Chief Minister said that wisdom had dawn upon the party late. The CPI (M) would soon be saying that it was a historic blunder to severe its alliance with the Congress. It had started losing ground following that decision. He parried questions as to why the Congress was not coming forward for introspection on its defeat in the elections.
