Students protest delay at first graduation day

The first graduation day of the Thiruvalluvar University’s constituent college at Tirupattur witnessed protests by the graduating students after it was delayed by at least two hours.

While officials of the university said the Vice-Chancellor, who was the chief guest, was held up in a meeting that led to the delay, Tirupattur MLA A. Nallathambi claimed political reasons were behind the delay. The DMK MLA said that Commercial Taxes Minister K.C. Veeramani was unhappy that his name was not printed on the invitation.

“We had scheduled the graduation day at 10.30 a.m. The V-C had to attend a meeting, and was on the way to take part in the graduation day. But some persons started to spread information that the V-C will not come. I spoke to the students and assured them. The V-C reached the venue and the graduation programme started a little after noon,” said V. Peruvalluthi, registrar in-charge of the university.

750 receive degrees

Nearly 750 students received their degrees on the occasion.

“I was invited to the graduation day. The hall was packed with students and their parents when I reached the venue at 10.50 a.m. But the university and college authorities told me that the event was cancelled as the V-C had to leave to Chennai to attend an urgent meeting,” Mr. Nallathambi said.

He said he tried to sort out the issue as the students were waiting to get their degrees. “These students are from rural areas, and their family members had also come to see their children receive degrees. The problem was caused due to political interference. The local minister’s name was not printed on the invitation and he was not happy about it. Due to this political interference, the university officials were not allowed to decide independently,” he said.

Following the delay and news that the graduation day was cancelled, the students took to the road and protested.