CHENNAI: All classes in the department of politics and public administration were suspended by the University of Madras from Wednesday. This was spurred by student stir against the alleged demotion of the university professor, Ramu Manivannan,
Manivannan was the acting HOD of the department and was allegedly demoted after he refused to support administrative action against students who were part of the state-wide liquor prohibition protests.
Later around 10 students of the department, in solidarity with Manivannan, protested inside the university demanding his re-instatement. On Monday, the group was suspended for demanding that the professor’s status be restored as HOD. The students carried posters and organised protests inside the campus without prior permission.
On Wednesday, students were shocked to find a circular stating that all classes in the department were temporarily suspended until further orders. PG and M.Phil students were not allowed to enter the campus and were asked to vacate the hostel immediately.
A political science student said that out of the 140-odd students in the department, around 40 were from other states and six were international students. After the circular was handed over to the department, they had no clue where to stay till classes were restored.
After an emergency meeting late in the evening between student representatives and the present HOD of political science Kotteswara Prasad, an oral order was passed by the university management revoking the order asking students to vacate rooms.
Around 20 students who wanted to meet the Vice Chancellor, R Thandavan, were made to wait for hours in the conference hall. They were unable to reach the VC. The Registrar David Jawahar said that after these students explained their inconvenience, a written consent was obtained from them they would not participate in protests and oral orders were passed revoking the order calling students to leave the hostel rooms.
The students had begun a sit-in protest on August 10 that continued for 15 days. They had asserted that they would continue their protests till Manivannan was reinstated.
Last week, the Campus Coordination Committee (CCC) held talks with Manivannan and students to call off the protests. The committee was unable to make a breakthrough in their discussions and protests were set to continue.