Chennai, The Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers’ Association has condemned the state government for issuing an explanation notice to Joint Director of Collegiate Education Cynthia Selvi over a circular related to curbing student participation in political protests, demanding its immediate withdrawal.
The meeting had called for interdepartmental coordination among the School Education, Higher Education, and Police Departments, along with the district administration, to prevent students and youth from taking part in protests and agitations organised by left-wing parties and other outfits. A directive was initially issued by the Special Secretary to the Higher Education Department, based on the minutes of a Law and Order meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary on July 28, according to the association.
“When no explanation was sought from the Higher Education Department Special Secretary who issued the circular, nor from the University Registrar who also forwarded the circular to colleges, it is baffling why the Joint Director of Collegiate Education alone is being made a scapegoat,” Suresh said in the statement.
Furthermore, the Registrar of the University of Madras had also circulated the identical instruction to all affiliated arts and science colleges, calling for an action-taken report. Following this, the Higher Education Department had on August 14 communicated instructions to the Commissioner of Collegiate Education, the Director of Technical Education, and the Registrars of all state universities, calling for an Action Taken Report to be submitted to the government on or before August 20. The teachers’ body pointed out that after the matter sparked controversy, the Higher Education Department withdrew its original circular on August 19.
