Prof moves court for direction on bifurcating varsity

Prof moves court for direction on bifurcating varsity

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.12.2020

A physics professor has moved the Madras high court seeking direction to the office of the governor to take a decision on an ordinance forwarded by the Tamil Nadu government for bifurcating Thiruvalluvar university and establishing a university in Villupuram.

Considering the demands from the residents of Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore and other neighbouring districts for better access to higher education, the Tamil Nadu government passed the ordinance on September 16 and sent it to the governor for his assent.

Since the ordinance was pending with the office of the governor for over three months, the petitioner R Muthulakshmi, an associate professor, moved high court.

She claimed that the very purpose of the ordinance would be defeated due to the delay caused by the governor in either promulgating the ordinance or returning the same.

“This would give rise to questions regarding dereliction of a constitutional duty by the highest constitutional authority of the state,” she alleged.

The chief minister as the highest executive authority of the state has announced the creation of a new varsity by bifurcating the Thiruvalluvar University where it was specifically stated that the new university would start functioning in this year itself, the petitioner said.

“As clearly stated in the press release of the chief minister, the decision to create the new university was taken after due consideration of the long term requests of the residents in Villupuram. Therefore, the delay in making a decision on the ordinance is detrimental to public and aspiring students, particularly the residents of Villupuram,” she added.

Delay in granting assent is now putting the future of many students in jeopardy as they were under the legitimate expectation of securing admission in the said university, its affiliates and constituents, she said.