Teachers Keep away classes

Deccan Chronicle Correspondent, Madurai Jan 6

American College on Wednesday ‘reopened’ with police protection after being closed for about a month after most of the staff opposed the taking over of the over 125-year-old institutuion by CSI Bishop Christopher Asir.

The Bishop-appointed principal R. Mohan (according to the college constitution Bishop has NO RIGHTs to do so and this has also been declared in a High Court judgement) had orderd the reopening of the college while the council’s principal PR Anbudurai is opposed to the reopening until the government intervenes and finds a permanent solution to the dispute over administering the college. Only about 200 students turned up out of the total 3,700 while a majority of the teaching staff kept away.

Police was picketed both inside and outside the college. They frisked the teachers as well as the students before being allowed into the college. The staff owing allegiance to the council’s principal held a demonstration inside the campus asking the government to intervene and stop the illegal takeover of the institution by the Bishop, who they said, had unilaterally appointed his “puppet” as the principal with the tacit support of the directorate of collegiate education.

The dispute in the administration reared its ugly head after Chinnaraj T Joseph retired as principal on Nov. 27. While he in the capacity of the Secretary of the governing council handed over charges to vice-principal Anbudurai, the Bishop, the president of the council (as president the bishop could only preside over the council meetings which is also not a mandatory role. He has NO POWERS to call for or convene a council meeting), citing the letter of approval issued by collegiate education director Uma Rani (note that the Joint Director of collegiate education, Madurai has stated that NO approval was given to anyone as principal of the college) inducted his man as the principal, the professors said.

Items within brackets are added by the blogger for clarity.