Probe against Surappa: Madurai Bench shifts case to principal seat

The PIL filed by Manithanigai Kumar of Kanniyakumari said the Higher Education Secretary took an inimical stand against the V-C mainly because of two issues: the latter seeking Institute of Eminence (IoE) status from the Centre despite opposition from State government and the VC’s refusal to agree to promoting final year engineering students with more than 20 arrears without attending exams.

The address and contact number of A Suresh of Tiruchy, who raised the allegation of corruption against Surappa through a letter to the Chief Minister’s Special Cell, were found to be fake, he added. Also, Governor Banwarilal Purohit, the university Chancellor, should have been consulted before issuing the GO initiating inquiry, the PIL added, seeking to stay all proceedings.

The government counsel opposed the plea on the ground of lack of jurisdiction, while Surappa’s counsel said the Chancellor was not ready to give his nod to set up the inquiry commission. The division bench comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and B Pugalendhi conceded to the V-C’s prayer to implead him in the PIL, and transferred the case to the principal bench.