HC’s warning to TN on student admissions in Thiruvalluvar univ

HC’s warning to TN on student admissions in Thiruvalluvar univ

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:3.8.2021 

The Madras high court has threatened to stay admissions to post-graduate courses in Thiruvalluvar University, if they are made without amending or repealing a law brought in by the former AIADMK government creating Dr J Jayalalithaa University at Villupuram.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu made the observations while hearing a plea moved by former law minister C Ve Shanmugam. He alleged that the present government was neglecting the varsity in district due to political reasons.

When the plea came up for hearing, advocate-general R Shunmugasundaram submitted that except for passing a law for establishment of the university, the previous AIADMK government had not created any infrastructure for the varsity to function.

“Except appointment of a vice-chancellor and a car driver for him, nothing has been allotted for the establishment of the university. Currently, the university functions from an old tahsildar office,” the AG said.

The present government has decided not to waste money on the new university as the Annamalai University, which is spread across 2,000 acres of land, has become a state university now, he added.

The court, however, made it clear that it had to stay the operation of the notification for the admissions if the legislation for establishment of the varsity is operational. The bench then directed the advocate-general to get appropriate instruction from the government on August 4.

Earlier, representing the petitioner, former advocategeneral and senior advocate Vijay Narayan wanted the court to direct the state government to provide necessary funds for the smooth functioning and upkeep of the university.

“Tiruvalluvar University must be restrained from operating post-graduate extension centres in Villupuram in violation of the provisions of the Dr J Jayalalithaa University Act of 2021,” he said.

According to Shanmugam, the university was established in Villupuram by bifurcating the Tiruvalluvar University, following a request from him last year in his capacity as an MLA representing the constituency.

The object of the act was to bifurcate the jurisdiction of Tiruvalluvar University and bring Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Cuddalore districts within the ambit of the new institution.

However, after a change of regime in the state, the new university was being neglected, he alleged.