University of Madras professor petitions K Rosaiah against his removal

Chennai: The removal of professor K.Jothi Sivagnanam from the University of Madras convener committee snowballed into a major controversy as he petitioned the chancellor and Governor K. Rosaiah on Monday seeking his intervention and sought disapproval of the syndicate’s decision.

In the absence of the vice-chancellor, the three-member convener committee is managing the routine affairs of the university. At the last syndicate meeting on March 18, Jothi Sivagnanam was removed from the convener committee. Sriman Narayanan from the department of analytical chemistry, replaced him. “The move by phe Principal secretary was motivated by others finding my presence in the convener committee inconvenient for carrying out activities which are a violation of statutes and misappropriation of funds in the university,” the petition alleged.

“The meeting of the convener committee was never called from the date of selection of the committee to till date. The principal secretary has been unilaterally deciding on many financial matters with the connivance of university officials,” it said.

When DC contacted Jothi Sivagnanam, professor and head, Department of economics, said, “The decision of my removal and replacement by professor Sriman Narayanan is not a valid one as it was not on the regular agenda. The issue was not even placed on table agenda.”

“My removal from the convener committee is a reaction to my principled stand in pointing out irregularities. My presence in the convener committee was seen as a hindrance to vested interests, “ he said. After vice-chancellor R.Thandavan’s tenure ended on January 17, the syndicate selected a three member convener committee to run the university.