Kerala Law Academy agitation: Clip principal's wings, says governing board chairman

Thiruvananthapuram: Students unions agitating against the Law Academy have made it clear that they would not withdraw the stir unless Academy principal Lakshmi Nair is removed from the post. Now, K. Ayyappan Pillai, the chairman of the governing body that runs the Law Academy, has come out with a formula to sort out the issue. He has suggested removing the power of the principal in dealing with issues related to internal marks and attendance. Mr Pillai said that he would place his recommendations before the governing body meeting to be held on Monday.

Meanwhile, Administrative Reforms Committee chairman V.S. Achuthanandan has reiterated his demand that the excess land vested with the Kerala Law School Law Academy should be taken over by the state government. Speaking to All India Radio on the issue, Mr Achuthanandan said that only three acres of land is being used for the college. The rest was in the hand of private parties. "My view was that the strike by the students was for a just cause. This stand was also shared by Education Minister C. Raveendranath. The complaints against the principal had a criminal nature. It included caste discrimination and asking students to work in a private company," Mr Achuthanandan said.