Thiruvananthapuram: Some of the unsung heroes or heroines of the students strike at the Kerala Law Academy Law College were a group of girl students without any political affiliation who triggered the strike under the banner of ‘Vidhyardhi Aikyam.’ These students, mostly residing in hostels, had started the strike as they were at the receiving end of Principal Lakshmi Nair’s ire.
Arya V. John, one of the members of this group of girls, told this newspaper that around 150 students who were staying in hostels started the strike after erecting a separate pandal named ‘Vidhyardhi Aikyam.’ As many as 60 day scholars also joined the strike. There were some girls who were affiliated to various students’ organisations in the strike, Ms John said.
“Initially we were conducting the strike independently. After the SFI withdrew, a joint action council was formed with ABVP, AISF, KSU and MSF,” she added. There were pressures from various quarters on the girls to withdraw from the strike. The managements put pressure on them to stay away from campus during the strike. However, we were able to successfully withstand pressures, said Ms John.
Strike brings out skeletons hiding in Academy’s closet:
The real status of Law Academy Law College, guest lecturers being paid in daily wages, nepotism in the award of marks, collusion in attendance dole-out, financial irregularities and alleged electoral malpractices by director N. Narayanan Nair all beg for answers although the 29-day student stir has ended. Even the clamour to restore the Academy administration to an omnibus committee with the Governor as the chief patron, resembling the original 52-member committee, is ill-advised as there is a conflict of interest. The Governor by virtue of his office is also the Chancellor of universities.
He will not be able to intervene as the Chancellor in any issue concerning the Academy if he is also its chief patron. Such is the complex nature of the Academy. Even experienced teachers are paid a paltry '10,000 to '15,000 monthly. Many teachers are being paid '150 an hour and they fear they will lose the remuneration during the strike period. The status of the Academy is steeped in mystery as there is no material available to prove its original affiliation to Kerala University. The situation is compounded by authorities’ lack of interest in retrieving “lost” files and straightening the record.
Allegations of financial misdemeanours include Academy cheques being cashed with single signatory as against the stipulation of signatures by two signatories, dubious I-T returns filed by the administration, often not fully scrutinised, and massive funds collection through students. The Academy’s deposits and withdrawals also have been called to question. Another major charge, a refrain of decades, has been Mr Nair’s gerrymandering of the electoral constituency of graduates and his clout with Kerala University, often influencing crucial decisions to suit the Academy interests. Realty issues and educational qualification of the principal, since removed, are up for investigation.
Sources believe that the strike, which enjoyed across-the board backing, will help resolve all controversial issues concerning the Academy unlike in the late 1990s when a prominent English newspaper exposed many of its lapses, but had to face Nair-sponsored student protests in front of its office.
