Student Protest Circular Row: Teachers' Association Slams TN Govt's Action Against Official

Chennai - The Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association (TNGCTA) has expressed strong disapproval of the state government's actions regarding a circular aimed at restricting student involvement in political protests. The association has demanded the immediate revocation of the notice issued to Cynthia Selvi, the Joint Director of Collegiate Education.

TNGCTA questions notice The TNGCTA's General Secretary, S Suresh, questioned why Cynthia Selvi was being targeted and held responsible, given that she was simply executing administrative orders relayed from higher authorities following decisions made at a Law and Order meeting. The association explained that the circular's inception came from a Special Secretary to the Higher Education Department, based on minutes from a July 28 Law and Order meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary.

The meeting called for coordination between the School Education, Higher Education, Police Departments, and the district administration to curb protests by students and youth from left-wing parties and other groups. Afterward, the Higher Education Department issued instructions to the Collegiate Education Commissioner, Director of Technical Education, and university Registrars, requesting an Action Taken Report (ATR) by August 20.

Cynthia Selvi followed these directives and forwarded the circular to all arts and science colleges. TNGCTA points out that after controversy erupted, the Higher Education Department withdrew its original circular on August 19. The association also noted that the University of Madras Registrar circulated the identical instruction to all affiliated arts and science colleges, asking for a response.

No clarification was requested from the Higher Education Department's Special Secretary, who issued the circular, nor from the University Registrar, who forwarded it to colleges. Suresh asked why Cynthia Selvi alone is being blamed when all intermediate officials were following departmental protocols and implementing higher authority instructions.

The TNGCTA called on the Tamil Nadu government to drop all proceedings and withdraw the explanation letter issued to Cynthia Selvi.