Politics, politicization of Governor and VC and related issues affecting the Academics and standards of education – Periyar University VC arrest, bail and thereof.
Governor vs State becoming controversial: Now, the political narrative, discussion and discourses on the post of Governor, duties of Governor, Governor as Chancellor of Universities, appointments of Vice Chancellors for the Universities and connected issues have been important news. Particularly, this has become politicized and controversialized where the opposition parties ruling the States. Thus, in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamilnadu, many such problems reported, where the fight between the CM and Governor has been routine and daily basis also. The CMs want to appropriate the power of the Governors in appointing Vice-Chancellor. There has been a lot of news appearing in the media about the corruption involved in the appointment of VCs for Universities, where, crores are reportedly asked and given for getting such an appointment. It has also been reported that every VC thus appointed would appoint 20-30 Assistant Professors in their respective Universities and get back the amount he paid from them.
VC appointment based on merit or otherwise?: After the NDA / BJP government coming to power at the Centre, it is said that such corruption has come down, as only eligible and highly qualified emeritus Professors and such other experts alone are becoming VCs with merit. Thus, persons with merit are getting the appointment of Assistant Professors. When Prohit was Governor, many controversies were raised by the political parties, but, he withstood such malicious propaganda and now, he has been Governor of Punjab. Though, AAP has been the opposition party there, not much news is appearing as that of Kerala, West Bengal and Tamilnadu. Therefore, definitely, the Citizens of India have to know what has been going on in the Universities and academic institutions, where, politics and political interference and politicization should not be there.
VC appointment in 2021: Jagannathan, who was appointed as VC of the Salem-based university by then Governor Banwarilal Purohit in June 2021, is a known agricultural expert and had served as the dean of the prestigious Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore[1]. The VC has been under the cloud for the better part of his tenure with several political parties and activists levelling allegations of corruption against him and his colleagues at the university established in 1997[2]. Police said R. Jagannathan was arrested from the University premises on 26-12-2023 Tuesday evening under sections 294(b), 120(b), 420, 468, 409 r/w 511 and 506(1) of the IPC and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, following a complaint filed by A. Elangovan, legal advisor of the Periyar University Employees Union (PUEU)[3]. “There are a few other complaints against Jagannathan,” police said[4]. When the VC was produced before the judicial magistrate-II of Salem district court, J Dhinesh Kumaran, he was granted bail for seven days, stating the case prima facie appeared to be made out under mere allegations,” an official source said[5]. Hours after he was arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Periyar University vice-chancellor (VC) R Jagannathan, 63, came out on seven-day conditional bail in the early hours of Wednesday, even as the Salem city police launched searches at eight places, including his official quarters and house in connection with the case of misappropriation of funds[6]. The VC has, however, been directed to appear before the assistant police commissioner of Suramangalam to put his signature on all the seven days.
Periyar University Employees Union (PUEU) – a company or part of University?: The company has four directors, including Jagannathan, and Registrar K Thangavel, the complainant has alleged[7]. On November 6, the Periyar University administration placed a table agenda in the syndicate meeting to undertake educational programmes in collaboration with PUTER Foundation, following which the Association of University Teachers raised concerns alleging financial irregularities in the university[8]. Their specific complaint is that the company was set up using the university’s resources and infrastructure for personal gain, the police said. The state government, too, has formed a committee to look into these complaints.
Complaint given by the University Legal Advisor: The Salem city police on 26-12-2023, Tuesday arrested Periyar University Vice-Chancellor Dr R Jagannathan for allegedly misappropriating public funds and establishing a private company on the campus under his name[9]. An FIR was registered against the vice-chancellor, based on a complaint filed by I Elangovan, legal advisor of Periyar University Employee Union (PUEU), and Salem city police Commissioner B Vijayakumari, said officials[10]. Elangovan has accused the V-C and registrar Thangavel of having a “direct interest” in the private firm — PUTER Foundation, allegedly located within the Periyar University — said police, adding that there were also several other complaints of financial irregularities[11]. The matter came to light when the university administration proposed a collaboration with the PUTER Foundation, with Dr Jagannathan and Thangavel as its directors[12]. The Association of University Teachers had raised concerns about this collaboration, alleging the “company was set up using university resources”.
PMK points out many irregularities: PMK leader and former Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had last month demanded that the state government dismiss Jagannathan from his post, after the news of the proposal to tie-up with PUTER Foundation emerged. Ramadoss had said that students who get trained from the foundation will “pay higher fees” despite the firm utilizing the resources of the university which is funded by the taxpayers’ money. Corruption in higher educational institutes in Tamil Nadu is not new as two former vice-chancellors of Anna University and Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University were in 2018 booked for serious graft charges by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). The agency also arrested the vice-chancellor of Coimbatore-based Bharathiar University, A Ganapathi, while accepting a bribe of Rs 30 lakh for regularising the job of an assistant professor, in the same year.
The condemnation of BJP: The arrest of Periyar University Vice-Chancellor Jagannathan would create fear among honest Vice-Chancellors. BJP state vice-president Kanakasabhapathy has condemned it and suggested the governor to intervene. Jagannathan, 68, was arrested and released on bail after filing a complaint about starting a business. In this regard, the state vice-president of the BJP, Kanakasabhapathy, issued a statement: “The arrest of the Vice-Chancellor of Periyar University by the police without evidence is strongly condemned. He is respected by many in the state as an honest educationist. But he is suddenly arrested without any notice. It seems that the police have tried not to follow the rules, file a case in the evening and appear in the court at night, and immediately send them to jail. And the next day the Vice Chancellor’s office and house were raided for several hours throughout the night. Hence the name of the Vice-Chancellor has been defamed in public. It is not known how the state higher education department gave permission for this. Educationists are concerned that this move by the state government will create some fear among honest vice-chancellors in Tamil Nadu. The state chief minister should take action on this. The state government should give a detailed explanation. Those involved should be held accountable for these wrongdoings that have tarnished the education sector. The investigating officer and the higher education department officials and the state government should take appropriate action immediately. The state governor who is the chancellor of the university should immediately intervene in this,” the statement said. However, this BJP support has been criticized by the other media, obviously, anti-BJP ideology.
Fastly moving incidences within four days: The Salem Police Station has been directed by the Madras High Court on 29-12-2023 to submit the case documents related to the arrest of R Jagannathan, Vice-Chancellor of Periyar University[13]. The court also adjourned a petition filed by the police that sought to quash the interim bail granted to him for today, December 29, 2023 reports The New Indian Express[14]. During the hearing of the petition before Justice P Dhanabal on Thursday, December 28, the counsel of the police moved to have the bail revoked. The counsel argued that it was granted by the judicial magistrate without giving the police an opportunity to present its case. The judge subsequently directed the police to file the case documents, including the interim bail order and scheduled a hearing for today, December 29. On December 26, the Salem city police arrested R Jagannathan, the Vice-Chancellor of Periyar University, for allegedly founding a private corporation to offer educational programmes in collaboration with the university in violation of norms and he was given bail on 27-12-2023 with hospitalization[15]. Angio was done, as he complained of chest pain and now reported stable[16].
Corruption, corrupt politics and politicked Academics: Corruption in education cannot be accepted on any account, reason or logic. The ideological interference with academics has been giving way the corruption to enter. Thus, some dominant ideologies and ideologists have infiltrated the ademic institutions through power-politics. The Socialism garb and socialist masquerade helped the Communists of all sorts to enter academics. Then, the dominant religious minorities with their “holy” alliances with the Communists made such power-politics and academic-appointment completely idelogized and politicized. Thus, many of the Central and State governmental Ministry of Education, Educational Institutions and governing bodies become manipulators of education. With the privatization of education, the commercialization has also implemented with the education business more profitable than others. Thus, becoming VC, HOD, Professor, Assistant Professor etc., have become coveted ones and the aspiring persons have been ready to go to any extent. As money-making has become the “mantra,” all have become agents in one way or the other, facilitating and taking care of interests mutually.
© Vedaprakash
29-12-2023
[1] Deccan Herald, Periyar University V-C arrested on charges of misappropriation of funds, ETB Sivapriyan DHNS Last Updated 26 December 2023, 22:41 IST.
[2]https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/periyar-university-v-c-arrested-on-charges-of-misappropriation-of-funds-2825869
[3] The Hindu, Arrested Periyar University Vice Chancellor released on conditional bail, December 27, 2023 11:48 am | Updated 03:18 pm IST – SALEM.
[4] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/arrested-periyar-university-vice-chancellor-released-on-conditional-bail/article67679007.ece
[5] Times of India, Periyar University vice-chancellor gets bail for 7 days, TNN / Dec 28, 2023, 08:45 IST
[6] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/periyar-varsity-v-c-gets-bail-for-7-days-in-hospital-for-angio/articleshow/106335913.cms
[7] Hindusthan Times, Periyar University V-C arrested for alleged irregularities: Police, By Divya Chandrababu, Dec 27, 2023 01:06 PM IST
[8] https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/periyar-university-v-c-arrested-for-alleged-irregularities-police-101703662619845.html
[9] Indian Express, Periyar varsity V-C arrested for floating private firm on campus, By: Express News Service, Chennai | First uploaded on: 27-12-2023 at 02:28 IST; Updated: December 27, 2023 02:33 IST.
[10] https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/periyar-varsity-v-c-arrested-for-floating-private-firm-on-campus-9084037/
[11] Times of India, Searches at places of Periyar university VC, registrar last for 21 hrs, TNN / Dec 29, 2023, 08:40 IST.
[12] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/searches-at-places-of-periyar-univ-vc-latest-news/articleshow/106364564.cms
[13] Indian Express, Madras High Court seeks case documents on arrest of Periyar University VC, Edex Live, Published: 29th December 2023
[14] https://www.edexlive.com/news/2023/dec/29/madras-high-court-seeks-case-documents-on-arrest-of-periyar-university-vc-39533.html
[15] Times of India, Periyar varsity V-C gets bail for 7 days; in hospital for angio, TNN / Dec 28, 2023, 08:43 IST
[16] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/periyar-varsity-v-c-gets-bail-for-7-days-in-hospital-for-angio/articleshow/106335859.cms