PUDUCHERRY: Tension gripped the Pondicherry University Vice-Chancellor’s office on Monday as two groups of faculty members barged into it and got into a scuffle after heated exchanges, demanding the Vice-Chancellor to listen to their grievances.
The two groups comprised activists of Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Pondicherry University Staff Welfare Associations and those of the Pondicherry University SC/ST Employees Welfare Association.
The JAC, led by professor Pramod Singh, Dr N Dastagiri Reddy and Dr M Vallathan, wanted the Vice-Chancellor Chandra Krishnamoorthy to withdraw the repatriation order of the Registrar Raajiv Yaduvanshi, as it was issued without following due procedures for repatriation of an officer, who is on deputation to the university.
The other group, led by Dr A Praveen, wanted the Registrar be repatriated without delay and hand over the charge to professor S Pannirselvame, Dean, School of Humanities, who has been put in as Registrar-in-charge.
Both the groups had to wait in front of the office as Chandra had gone out for a while. Even then, the groups entered into verbal exchanges and engaged in a scuffle, which resulted in shirts being torn. One of the groups resorted to raising slogans against Yaduvanshi.
When Chandra returned, the groups forced themselves into her chamber and some of them stood around her chair and raised slogans, despite the presence of the officer on special duty.
The Superintendent of Police Thamilarasi tried to speak to the groups and pacify them. The SP asked them to restore order and speak to the Vice-Chancellor in a respectful manner.
Chandra Krishnamurthy asked the groups to raise their respective issues in a cordial manner. But, her request fell on deaf ears.
After a while, the members of the JAC walked out of the office and staged a dharna.