VC meet sparks faceoff between Tamil Nadu governor & govt

UDHAGAMANDALAM: The faceoff between Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi and the state govt took a new turn with the former alleging that vice-chancellors of state universities were 'warned' by the govt not to participate in the two-day conference of VCs convened by Raj Bhavan on Friday. The DMK govt hit back at Ravi saying the VCs skipped the conference as it was 'illegal'.

While the VCs of state-run universities were absent, VCs from central universities and deemed-to-be universities participated. "Unfortunately, none of the vice-chancellors of state universities are participating. They have informed me that they have been warned by the state govt," the governor said at the conference, which was inaugurated by VP Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Guv organised conference 'adamantly in violation of law': TN higher edu mantri

Accusing govt of threatening some VCs, Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi said: "A VC had reached Ooty and something unprecedented happened. There was a midnight knock and a special branch police (officer) was there and he told him that if he (the VC) participated in the conference, he would not be able to go home and meet his family."

Referring to Salem Periyar University VC R Jagannathan, who was summoned on Friday by Suramangalam police for an inquiry pertaining to allegations that he floated a private firm and used university premises to run it, Ravi said: "Another VC is at the police station at the moment."

Ravi said there is no politics involved in organising the conference, claiming that it has been showing results. "But perhaps for people in govt, it is not a comfortable situation."

Hitting back at the governor, TN higher education minister Govi Chezhian said Ravi convened the conference in a deliberate attempt to pick a fight with the state govt since SC gave a ruling in govt's favour empowering it to appoint VCs.

Chezhian said the governor organised the conference "adamantly in violation of the law" even after SC verdict. "The VCs were aware that the conference was illegal and have skipped it. How is the state govt responsible for their absence?"

Chezhian took a dig at the Vice-President as well. "Participation of Dhankhar in the conference is not surprising. The whole country saw his aggressive activities against Mamta Banerjee govt when he was West Bengal governor."

DMK MP P Wilson posted on X: "I condemn these false and irresponsible statements made by the Governor, who is proving to be incorrigible. How can a Governor make such baseless allegations against his own govt?"