The relative calm in the Mahatma Gandhi University appears to have ended following a recent order issued by Vice Chancellor (VC) Babu Sebastian directing the closure of the 65 off-campus centres functioning outside the territorial jurisdiction of the university.
The VC almost stood isolated at the meeting of the service organisations of the non-teaching staff convened to discuss the issue. The leaders of service organisations sought the continued functioning of these centres.
The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)-led MG University Employees Union (MGUEU) and the Left-leaning MG University Employees Association (MGUEA) wanted the university to take steps to strengthen the off-campus centres.
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The union leaders said the sudden closure of the centres would affect the future of thousands of students and the financial viability of the institutions.
K. Sherafuddeen of the MGUEA said 40 medical and paramedical institutions run by the university had already been affiliated to the Kerala University of Health Sciences.
In addition, 45 engineering colleges would now be linked to the proposed technical university. Three affiliated colleges had been granted autonomous status and another six would get it soon, he said.
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The financial sources of the university were dwindling and the political games were killing another major one, he said.
Court orders
Mr. Sherafuddeen said a Supreme Court verdict in 2005 had allowed the university to operate off-campus centres and this fact was not presented before the High Court by the university authorities. This should be brought to the attention of the Chancellor too, he said.
It was improper for the university to cancel the affiliations of those institutions which were granted the same by its own Syndicate.
The VC cited the directive from the courts, the University Grants Commission, and the Chancellor and said the university would take every step to protect the interests of the students enrolled at these institutions.
The university would suffer a net loss of Rs.7 crore on account of the closure of these institutions and this amount could be recouped through the proposed foray into online education, Dr. Sebastian said.
The university had set up the Directorate of Online Education under the School of Distance Education (SDE).
Thomas John Mambra, Controller of Examinations; Baby Thomas, Director, SDE; and representatives of the various service organisations were present.
Varsity to suffer a net loss of Rs.7 crore
Facts not represented properly in court: unions