Tamil Nadu Govt Slams Official Over Student Protest Circular

The Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers' Association (TNGCTA) has condemned the state government's decision to issue an explanation notice to Joint Director of Collegiate Education Cynthia Selvi.

The notice was issued in relation to a circular regarding curbing student participation in political protests.

According to the TNGCTA, the Joint Director was merely carrying out administrative instructions forwarded from higher authorities. The association questioned why Cynthia Selvi was being singled out and held accountable for the circular.

The circular 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. The meeting called for interdepartmental coordination to prevent students and youth from taking part in protests and agitations organised by left-wing parties and other outfits.

The Higher Education Department had 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 (ATR) to be submitted to the government.

Acting on the departmental directive, Joint Director of Collegiate Education Cynthia Selvi had forwarded the circular to all arts and science colleges. However, after the matter sparked controversy, the Higher Education Department withdrew its original circular on August 19.

The TNGCTA pointed out that 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. The association urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately drop all proceedings and withdraw the explanation letter issued to Cynthia Selvi.

The TNGCTA General Secretary S Suresh stated that it was baffling why the Joint Director of Collegiate Education alone was being made a scapegoat, 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.

The association noted that all intermediate officials were merely following departmental hierarchy and implementing instructions received from higher authorities.

The controversy surrounding the circular has sparked debate about the role of students in political protests and the government's efforts to curb their participation.

The TNGCTA's condemnation of the government's action is a significant development in the ongoing debate about academic freedom and the limits of government control over educational institutions.

The outcome of this controversy will have significant implications for the education sector in Tamil Nadu and may set a precedent for similar cases in the future.

In conclusion, the Tamil Nadu government's decision to issue an explanation notice to Cynthia Selvi has been widely condemned by the TNGCTA, which has urged the government to withdraw the notice and drop all proceedings against the Joint Director.