Govt teachers' body opposes notice to official over withdrawn student protest circular

Chennai, The Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers' Association has condemned the state government for issuing an explanation notice to Joint Director of Collegiate Education Cynthia Selvi over a circular related to curbing student participation in political protests, demanding its immediate withdrawal.

In a press statement issued on August 22, TNGCTA General Secretary S Suresh questioned why the Joint Director was being singled out and held accountable when she was merely carrying out administrative instructions forwarded from higher authorities following decisions taken at a high-level state Law and Order meeting.

According to the association, a directive 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 had called for interdepartmental coordination among the School Education, Higher Education, and Police Departments, along with the district administration, to prevent students and youth from taking part in protests and agitations organised by left-wing parties and other outfits.

Following this, the Higher Education Department had on August 14 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 to be submitted to the government on or before August 20.

Acting on the departmental directive, Joint Director of Collegiate Education Cynthia Selvi had forwarded the circular to all arts and science colleges.

The teachers' body pointed out that after the matter sparked controversy, the Higher Education Department withdrew its original circular on August 19. Furthermore, 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.

"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, it is baffling why the Joint Director of Collegiate Education alone is being made a scapegoat," Suresh said in the statement.

Noting that all intermediate officials were merely following departmental hierarchy and implementing instructions received from higher authorities, the TNGCTA urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately drop all proceedings and withdraw the explanation letter issued to Cynthia Selvi.

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