Madras HC orders TN govt to furnish Anna University probe report to ex-VC

The Madras High Court on Friday ordered the Tamil Nadu government to furnish a copy of the inquiry report of Justice Kalayiarasan to former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, M.K. Surappa so that his explanation could be part of the inquiry proceedings. The report is to be forwarded to the Governor of Tamil Nadu, who is the chancellor of the University.

Justice V. Parthiban of the Madras High Court passed the orders on the basis of a petition filed by the former Vice-Chancellor.

While delivering the order Judge said, "Nevertheless in the face of certain detrimental findings in the report, the petitioner's explanation and his version must be part of the inquiry proceedings as his vindication."

The judge also said that the government can't be oblivious of the law and can't say that it cannot provide a copy of the report.

It may be noted that Surappa, whose tenure came to an end as the Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu's premier educational institution in 2021, has been waging a legal battle after the previous AIADMK government initiated an inquiry against him on alleged corruption, maladministration, and irregularities in appointments.

Surappa, however, petitioned that it was the victimisation of his resistance to the misappropriation of funds and materials by the then Minister for Higher education K.P. Anbalagan.

The former Vice-chancellor had also countered the government on the issue of giving pass marks to all students without taking examinations due to the lockdown induced by the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The former Vice-Chancellor was given four weeks time to respond to the findings of the report.