Stating that setting up of private universities would deny education to the downtrodden, the Association of University Teachers (Zone IV) has urged the State Government to withdraw the permission granted to two private universities, in the larger interest of the society.
The association’s executive meeting comprising members from Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Namakkal districts was conducted here in which the following resolutions were adopted. A resolution expressed shock over the permission granted to private universities and pointed out that creation of such universities would deny education to weaker section and would ruin the overall growth of the education. The resolution urged to withdraw the permission granted to the universities in the interest of promoting equality and inclusiveness in higher education.
Old pension scheme
Another resolution called for reverting to the old pension scheme without delay. The resolution expressed concern over the silence on the part of the State Government on the crucial issue and said that pension was not a bounty, but only an accrued right as said by the Supreme Court. Though the resolution welcomed the government’s move to takeover the Chikkaiah Naicker College, it wanted the government to expedite the takeover and declare it as a government college at the earliest.
A resolution said that the Vice-Chancellor of Periyar University, Salem, has been consistently pursuing an anti-employee stance by imposing compulsory retirement on Ms. Sivakami, an assistant, which was very much against the law. The AUT condemned the act and urged the Vice-Chancellor to withdraw the order. It also wanted the Salem City Police to expedite the ongoing investigation in the missing files case of the university and the charges levelled by P. Angamuthu, former Registrar, in his suicide note.
It also wanted the meeting of the Senate to be convened at the Periyar University and demanded the post of Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University filled soon. It also opposed the AICTE’s move to permit self-financing engineering colleges to start arts and science courses, which the Association feared would lead to closing down of programmes in basic sciences. It also called for withdrawing the hike in examination and practical fees at Periyar University.