CHENNAI: The CPM, an ally of the ruling TVK, staged a protest in Chennai on Saturday demanding action against Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar for allegedly ordering the release of a circular asking officials to monitor students taking part in protests conducted by Cockroach Janata Party and the Left parties, and against the Gujiliamparai tahsildar for allegedly surveying people involved in political activities.
CPM state secretary P Shanmugam urged the government to remove the chief secretary from his post and take proper action against the officer for his “illegal act”. The state government should make it clear that corrective action would be taken instead of trying to cover up the issue, he said.
M Ayyasamy, the former tahsildar of Gujiliamparai in Dindigul district, was suspended and relieved from his post after issuing the unauthorised circular demanding personal details of members of Left parties.
Addressing reporters, CPM Shanmugam said the survey conducted by the tahsildar was illegal, whether it was ordered by the government or carried out on his own. He said merely transferring the tahsildar from Gujiliamparai to Chennai and then sending him back could not be treated as action against him. Shanmugam alleged that the circular asking officials to monitor students and organisations involved in protests was issued based on a meeting chaired by the chief secretary.
Though one of the circulars issued by the Directorate of Collegiate Education was withdrawn after the issue came to light, the original order and another circular issued by the Higher Education Department to university registrars were yet to be withdrawn, he said.
Shanmugam said the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of speech, expression, assembly and to form organisations.
“No government or official has the right to monitor students for taking part in democratic protests,” he said.
