Periyar University Registrar retired, saved from suspension

Coimbatore: Periyar University registrar (in-charge) K Thangavel, who is facing allegations of financial irregularities, retired from service on Thursday as Vice-Chancellor R Jagannathan did not suspend him despite instructions from the higher education department.

Even as a section of the university staff protested, Thangavel was given a farewell by the faculty of the computer science department. Earlier in the day, the VC handed over orders to relieve Thangavel.

The Periyar University Teachers Association (PUTA) has urged Higher Education Secretary A Karthik to suspend the vice-chancellor for failing to follow his instructions. PUTA president V Vaithyanathan told TNIE, “Thangavel has faced eight complaints, such as illegal removal of local audit fund objection, scam in purchase of computer items, violations in skill courses etc. ,
“An inquiry committee appointed by the Higher Education Department found seven complaints to be true. On February 7 and 27, Higher Education Secretary A Karthik wrote to the VC directing him to suspend Thangavel. But he protected Thangavel and allowed him to retire. Gave the permission to.”

“Members of Periyar University Employees Union (PUEU) have been protesting on the campus for the last two days. But the university issued a memorandum to the protesters, which is an indirect threat,” he said.
Association of University Teachers (AUT) president MS Balamurugan in a statement urged the state government to immediately remove the VC from the post and said, “His challenge to the state should never be tolerated again.”

Former AUT president K Pandian said the VC was challenging the authority of an elected government and urged the Chief Minister to intervene.
Jagannathan declined to comment on the issue. Repeated attempts to contact Higher Education Secretary A Karthik went in vain.