The management of CMS College has demanded action against the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University who, according to the college authorities, has maligned the Church by making “untrue” statements on the disciplinary action taken against an activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI). The college management has been accused of reneging on an agreement reached with the SFI on the issue.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Registrar of the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India (CSI) Stephen
Daniel said the Vice-Chancellor and the Education Minister should apologise to the Church for the “false statements” made during the controversy when the SFI activist was denied an opportunity to take the examinations.
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Mr. Daniel said there was no formal ‘agreement' after the crucial discussions called by the district authorities on June 24. Instead, it was in the form of the minutes of the talks wherein the college authorities had agreed to allow the student to take the examinations. “The student was to have been allowed entry into the campus 15 minutes before the examination and leave within 15 minutes of completing it.
“We had pointed out the issues involving lack of attendance, project work, internal marks, seminar, etc., during our talks, and had made it clear that the college would take no responsibility in these matters. However, the leaders had assured the management that they would use their good offices to get special sanction for the student.” Now they want the college to provide ‘false' documents proving that the student had necessary attendance to appear for the examinations, he said.
Mr. Daniel said the college had already approached the Court regarding the campus violence and provided all necessary documents. “Now if we give false documents, it would amount to contempt.” When the district authorities raised the issue during the July 7 meeting of the sub-committee formed to resolve the row, the management had taken the stance that it would give such a document, provided the university or the district authorities extended them a formal request in this regard. “However, they were not ready to do that,” he said.
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He also said that the student concerned had not submitted his application for the examinations. “Even if he had submitted an application, the Principal would not be able to forward it to the university.”
Principal Kora C. Mani, who was also present at the press conference, said while he had not attended the meeting called by the Vice-Chancellor on a different issue, he was represented by an advocate and two Vice-Principals. His absence in the deliberations had not in any way affected the talks, he said.
Convener of the CMS College Samrakshana Samithy Thomas K Oommen was also present.