Amid high drama, senior professors and non- teaching staff members of Pondicherry University on Tuesday intensified their agitation against Vice Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy laying siege to her chamber for several hours.
They were demanding suspension of the memos issued to some teachers for participating in a fast on Monday.
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Members of Puducherry University Teachers Association (PUTA) and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Pondicherry University Staff Welfare Associations had recently renewed their agitation seeking the removal of the University Vice-Chancellor for alleged academic misdemeanour and act of plagiarism. They also alleged that she was not qualified to hold the post.
Following a protest fast on Monday demanding action by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, a few professors received memos through e-mail on Tuesday. The issuance of early morning memos triggered further protests in the campus on Tuesday with faculty members and non teaching staff laying a siege to VC's chamber seeking withdrawal of the notices.
As a piquant situation developed on campus, police were deployed to calm down the agitators. Kalapet MLA P.M.L.Kalyanasundaram held a round of talks with both sides for an amicable solution. At the end of talks, Registrar in charge S.Pannirselvame asked them to offer an explanation on why action should not be initiated against them but the professors flatly refused.
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Dastagiri Reddy,General Secretary of Pondicherry University Teachers Association said," The issuance of memo is illegal. We have not disturbed the functioning of the university on Monday. We will continue to hold agitations until the memos are withdrawn.
At around 8.30 p.m., commotion broke out as the Vice Chancellor attempted to come out of her chamber. "
Precious time wasted
We are wasting our precious time in fighting against such fraudulent administration", lamented B.K.Tiwary, head of Bio-Infomatics. B.M.Jaffar Ali, assistant professor in Centre For Green Energy who received a memo through e-mail at 6 a.m. said the memo aimed to disrupt the faculty association.
“It was a protest against Union Ministry of Human Resource Development for not taking any action on the report of fact finding committee. After assuming charge as the Vice Chancellor, Chandra Krishnamurthy does not give appointment to us easily. One has to wait for hours. We are sad to see that we are not treated with respect by the VC,” a faculty member remarked.
Teachers disperse
The agitating teachers dispersed at about 9 p.m. after the Vice Chancellor agreed to revoke the memos, ending a nearly five-hour siege.
Ms. Krishnamurthy refused to comment on the developments and stated that a detailed response would soon be framed. Mr. Reddy said the agitation for the Vice Chancellor's ouster would be continued later.
As a piquant situation developed on campus, police were deployed to calm down the agitators