Chennai: Students' protest drives Vice-Chancellor to set up peace panel

CHENNAI: Following week-long protests by students of Madras University, the Vice-Chancellor of the university P. Duraisamy has constituted a five-member peace committee on Thursday to look into the issues at the Department of Journalism and Communication.

The peace committee consists of Professor A.K. Munirajan from the Department of Genetics, Professor V. Bharathi Harishankar, head, Department of Women Studies, Professor G. Patrick, head, Department of Christian Studies, Professor S. Gurusamy, dean-academic and Professor N. Mathivannan, director, Guindy Campus, Madras University.

Immediately after the formation of the committee, the students have withdrawn their protest. Three students from the Department of Journalism and Communication protested in front of Vice-Chancellor’s office from last week demanding revaluation of their answer scripts and action against their head of the department Professor G. Ravindran for allegedly threatening them.

The Vice-Chancellor had promised revaluation of answer scripts. But, the students continued their protest demanding the inquiry committee against their head of the department.

In a sudden twist, the protesting students picketed the Vice-Chancellor's car on Wednesday. “The Vice-Chancellor has ordered revaluation of the answer scripts and also formed a peace committee to resolve the issues. The committee will analyse all activities of the department and find a permanent solution,” a professor said.

“We want an amicable solution to the issue within the rules and regulations of the university. The university administration was also mindful of not to set a wrong precedent,” he said.