Urging Governor Banwarilal Purohit to revoke the ‘condemnable’ extension order, DMK deputy general secretary K Ponmudi, in a statement, asked the Governor, as the chancellor, to revoke the order. Describing as ‘worrisome’ that the Governor, who claimed to be acting transparently without room for corruption in VC appointment, Ponmudi said that it was disturbing to find the Governor act in such a manner knowing pretty well that it would destroy the quality of higher education and impede the academic progress of students in the state. 

“Hence, the Governor should revoke the order extending the tenure of VCs of Bharathidasan and Periyar universities,” he added. Appealing to the Governor to not attempt tenure extension for VCs of any university, including the Anna University, Ponmudi, who was a former higher education minister, said that it was not only unhealthy, but unnecessary to extend the VC’s tenure after they had handed over charge. Wondering why the extension order had been issued after a select committee was constituted to identify the next VC, Ponmudi sought to know if a request to this effect was received from the state or if the Governor had made the decision unilaterally.