Tension prevailed on the American College campus for well over two hours on Wednesday morning as students protested that the college authorities had not given the semester examination hall-tickets and rescheduled the examination.
The first session of ‘end of semester' examinations was to begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday as the Madurai Kamaraj University had taken up the responsibility of conducting the examinations for the “left out” students of various undergraduate/postgraduate courses from July 27 to August 3.
After several rounds of talks with the two warring groups in American College last week, the MKU authorities had convinced both the factions that the semester examinations should not be affected in the interest of students.
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However, the first semester examination did not commence at the scheduled time on Wednesday due to the wrong date mentioned in the examination challan paid by the students and hence the hall-tickets could not be issued to students, college sources said.
Students protested outside the main gate criticising the college authorities. Police arrived at the spot and some students were taken away to the Tallakulam police station.
It was put on the notice board that the first session of examination was postponed to 3 p.m. and the scheduled second/third session examinations for the day would be conducted at a later date.
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College management officials, when contacted in person, refused to comment on the rescheduling of examinations on Wednesday as “it was agreed on both the sides (two factions) that they will not talk anything about the issues till the examinations are conducted.”
Meanwhile, at a press conference called for a different issue, the office-bearers of MUTA expressed concern over the delay on the part of State Government in finding a solution to the American College issue where two groups were fighting over the issue of the post of Principal and secretary.
“We have raised our voice at all appropriate forums. The Government is still keeping cool even though the college functioning is affected,” a senior office-bearer of the association told reporters.
Meanwhile, M. D. Christopher, Bursar, American College, told The Hindu in the evening that the students' written request to extend the time for payment of exam fees had been accepted and 23 students were able to write the examinations in the afternoon session because of that.
“There was a problem in the morning because only very few students could not make the fee payment through challan. The college Acting Principal R. Mohan has conceded to the request of MKU Dean (College Development Council) David Amirtharajan to allow the students to write the exams,” he said.
The university Dean visited the college after some students protested in the campus over the issue of permission to appear for the examinations.
He played a mediatory role once again and took up the students' request to the notice of college authorities, sources said.
Mr. Christopher said that the morning session exam which was rescheduled will be held immediately after the exams were over and the students need not worry on this aspect.