DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 27-06-2011 | COIMBATORE EDITION | PAGE 2 - BY MEYYAMMAI
Over 700 final year undergraduate and postgraduate students of The American College face a bleak future due to the internal strife at the once reputed institution.
While some of them have not written the final semester exams, the Bishop-controlled administration has not issued mark-sheets to those students who have attended the exams.
The students have threatened to resort to protests demanding that the government put an end to the administrative problem plaguing the institution.
The reason for the mark-sheets not being released, professors say, is that acting principal R. Mohan appointed by CSI Bishop Christopher Asir does not have the power to release the mark-sheets.
[It is well known that the Bishop does NOT have any legal standing in appointing the principal of the American College and the bishop with the help of thugs and with the connivance of police and without any proper legal documents or orders from the DCE, broke open the office and illegally took possession of the college administration on 10th December 2010. On the other hand, the righteous Dr. P.R. Anbudurai's appointment as Principal and Secretary by the outgoing principal and Secretary has not yet been given formal approval by the DCE Office so far. This has led to an administrative impasse and has resulted in NON PAYMENT OF SALARY for all the teaching and non-teaching staff for the past 7 months! and NON CONDUCTION of End of Semester Examinations for more than 1600 students. Since 10th December 2010, there has been two 'administrations' within a single campus, a legal and an illegal administration, running the college].
P.R.Anbudurai, to whom principal T. Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar handed over charge on retirement, says, "only the principal recognized by the valid governing council; is vested with the powers to issue mark-sheets which should be co-signed by the controller of examinations".
While issuing mark-sheets is one problem, the college has not yet declared the results for odd semester examinations which otherwise means the results of the Fifth and Third semester exams for undergraduate and postgraduate final year students respectively have NOT been published.
"I have got admission for Ph.D in IIT but the administration has given me a letter stating that I have passed out, not the mark-sheet. The IIT has given me time till September to produce the mark-sheets. I hope the college issue will be solved by then" says a PG student.
Many other students are confused. "the college tells me that it can only issue me a letter of approval with a seal. It is invalid and will not be accepted by any other college or university (for admission in higher studies). My future is at stake", says a B.Sc., student.
K. Anbunathan, director, management studies, says, "The division bench of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in August 2009 clearly stated that the Bishop has NO ROLE TO PLAY AS PER THE CONSTITUTION of the college and the appointments made by him are NOT valid. (visit the URL to see the Judgement: http://judis.nic.in/judis_chennai/qrydisp.aspx?filename=20120)This is one of the reasons why the acting principal (appointed by Bishop) has no authority whatsoever to release mark-sheets".
With the results of odd semester exams yet to be published, Mr. Anbudurai says, "The students marks are stored in a database along with confidential information. The Chennai-based software company that maintain the systems said that it will not provide access till the dispute is settled".
The warring factions and the students have met the higher education department officials and the minister several times and stated their stand. The staff, a majority of whom are against the "illegal take-over" of the college by the bishop and his men, are keeping their fingers crossed and looking to the government for a solution.
"Never mind if we are not paid salaries. We can pull along. The students should not be affected", says Prabaharan, a Tamil professor.
Over 700 final year undergraduate and postgraduate students of The American College face a bleak future due to the internal strife at the once reputed institution.
While some of them have not written the final semester exams, the Bishop-controlled administration has not issued mark-sheets to those students who have attended the exams.
The students have threatened to resort to protests demanding that the government put an end to the administrative problem plaguing the institution.
The reason for the mark-sheets not being released, professors say, is that acting principal R. Mohan appointed by CSI Bishop Christopher Asir does not have the power to release the mark-sheets.
[It is well known that the Bishop does NOT have any legal standing in appointing the principal of the American College and the bishop with the help of thugs and with the connivance of police and without any proper legal documents or orders from the DCE, broke open the office and illegally took possession of the college administration on 10th December 2010. On the other hand, the righteous Dr. P.R. Anbudurai's appointment as Principal and Secretary by the outgoing principal and Secretary has not yet been given formal approval by the DCE Office so far. This has led to an administrative impasse and has resulted in NON PAYMENT OF SALARY for all the teaching and non-teaching staff for the past 7 months! and NON CONDUCTION of End of Semester Examinations for more than 1600 students. Since 10th December 2010, there has been two 'administrations' within a single campus, a legal and an illegal administration, running the college].
P.R.Anbudurai, to whom principal T. Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar handed over charge on retirement, says, "only the principal recognized by the valid governing council; is vested with the powers to issue mark-sheets which should be co-signed by the controller of examinations".
While issuing mark-sheets is one problem, the college has not yet declared the results for odd semester examinations which otherwise means the results of the Fifth and Third semester exams for undergraduate and postgraduate final year students respectively have NOT been published.
"I have got admission for Ph.D in IIT but the administration has given me a letter stating that I have passed out, not the mark-sheet. The IIT has given me time till September to produce the mark-sheets. I hope the college issue will be solved by then" says a PG student.
Many other students are confused. "the college tells me that it can only issue me a letter of approval with a seal. It is invalid and will not be accepted by any other college or university (for admission in higher studies). My future is at stake", says a B.Sc., student.
K. Anbunathan, director, management studies, says, "The division bench of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in August 2009 clearly stated that the Bishop has NO ROLE TO PLAY AS PER THE CONSTITUTION of the college and the appointments made by him are NOT valid. (visit the URL to see the Judgement: http://judis.nic.in/judis_chennai/qrydisp.aspx?filename=20120)This is one of the reasons why the acting principal (appointed by Bishop) has no authority whatsoever to release mark-sheets".
With the results of odd semester exams yet to be published, Mr. Anbudurai says, "The students marks are stored in a database along with confidential information. The Chennai-based software company that maintain the systems said that it will not provide access till the dispute is settled".
The warring factions and the students have met the higher education department officials and the minister several times and stated their stand. The staff, a majority of whom are against the "illegal take-over" of the college by the bishop and his men, are keeping their fingers crossed and looking to the government for a solution.
"Never mind if we are not paid salaries. We can pull along. The students should not be affected", says Prabaharan, a Tamil professor.
0 comments :
Post a Comment