Teachers' Body Condemns Notice to Official Over Student Protest Circular

The Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers' Association (TNGCTA) has strongly condemned the state government's decision to issue an explanation notice to Joint Director of Collegiate Education Cynthia Selvi. The association demands the immediate withdrawal of the notice, which was related to a circular aimed at curbing student participation in political protests.

In a statement released on August 22, TNGCTA General Secretary S Suresh questioned the rationale behind singling out Selvi. He argued that she was merely executing administrative instructions passed down from higher authorities, stemming from decisions made at a high-level state Law and Order meeting on July 28. The meeting had called for interdepartmental coordination to prevent students from joining protests organized by left-wing parties and other groups.

The Higher Education Department had subsequently communicated these instructions on August 14 to various bodies, including the Commissioner of Collegiate Education, the Director of Technical Education, and the registrars of all state universities, requesting an Action Taken Report by August 20. Joint Director Cynthia Selvi then forwarded this directive to all arts and science colleges.

However, the situation became controversial, leading the Higher Education Department to withdraw its original circular on August 19. Notably, the University of Madras Registrar also circulated an identical instruction to affiliated colleges. Suresh pointed out the inconsistency in holding Selvi accountable when neither the Special Secretary who issued the initial circular nor the University Registrar who also disseminated it faced similar scrutiny.

"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 stated. The TNGCTA emphasized that all intermediate officials were simply following departmental hierarchy and implementing directives from above. They urged the Tamil Nadu government to cease all proceedings and retract the explanation letter issued to Cynthia Selvi.

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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.