Efforts to end the impasse at Ernakulam Maharaja’s College over the autonomy issue hit a snag on Saturday when the talks between the senior officials of the Higher Education Department and teacher representatives failed to strike a consensus on two contentious issues.
The Hindu has reliably learnt that the Higher Education Department turned down a proposal by the State leadership of the Association of Kerala Government College Teachers (AKGCT) that the government will not bring other eligible government colleges in the State under the ambit of autonomy. A demand for reinstating faculty members affiliated to the association, who were transferred after they refused to sign a declaration agreeing to undertake all works related to autonomy at Maharaja’s, was also rejected.
Senior Higher Education Department officials told the agitating teachers that no blanket assurance could be given on saying no to autonomy for other government colleges in the State, as it remains a policy decision depending on the stance taken by the respective governments. No word on bringing back the teachers transferred could be given as the matter is pending before the Kerala High Court.
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AKGCT’s State general secretary K. K. Damodaran said that talks have not failed, but only hit a roadblock over the lack of assurance over the issue of sanctioning autonomous status to other eligible government colleges in the State. “We are also expecting the Higher Education Department’s response to two to three other issues also, which could not be revealed now,” he said. Dr. Damodaran clarified that talks have not been called off and it may be held again on Sunday. “Efforts to resolve the deadlock will continue,” he added.
The Higher Education Department is learnt to have addressed almost all other suggestions made by the agitating teachers including their concerns on proliferation of self-financing courses and increased participation in the governing bodies of the college.
Demand to reinstate transferred faculty members rejected
No assurance given on saying no to autonomy for other colleges