Recommend dismissal of Anna University VC, Stalin tells CM

DMK President M.K. Stalin on Monday demanded that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami recommend the immediate dismissal of Anna University Vice Chancellor M.K. Surappa

In a statement issued here, Stalin, citing Surappa's letter to the Centre stating that the Anna University can raise Rs 1,500 crore on its own over a five year period and doesn't need the state government's assistance, said if Surappa had written it without Palaniswami's consent, then the Chief Minister immediately recommend the Vice Chancellor's dismissal to the Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who is also the Chancellor.

Surappa had also urged the Central government to designate the Anna University as an Institute of Eminence.

Holding that Surappa's letter is against the reservation policy and the state government's financial rights, Stalin, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, also demanded Palaniswami write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that without the written assurance from the Centre on continuation of 69 per cent reservation, the move to designate Anna University as an Institute of Eminence is unacceptable.

He wondered how Surappa can write to the Centre when the five member Ministerial committee to study the issue of bifurcating Anna University is yet to come out with its report.

According to Stalin, the Centre, while stating that the Anna University will be designated as Institute of Eminence, insisted that the state government should also provide funds and that Anna University's mobilising funds on its own would result in a burden on the students and their parents.

The Tamil Nadu government plans to have two Universities - the Anna Institute of Eminence and the Anna University - by amending the Anna University Act, 1978 and enacting a new Act.

According to the Government Order issued last year, the Central government has clarified that the provisions of reservation in admission would continue to apply even after getting the Institute of Eminence status.