The Hindu : 'Professor suspended for defamatory notes'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

'Professor suspended for defamatory notes'

By S. Annamalai

MADURAI SEPT. 16. The controversy over a reference to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, and her friend, N. Sasikalaa, in a lesson for a distance education postgraduate course of the Madurai-Kamaraj University has led to the suspension of a senior professor.

In an order (dated September 15) delivered to S. Jeyaprakasam, head, department of Gandhian Studies, today, the Registrar in-charge, L. Thara Bhai, said that "with an ulterior motive, (he) has incorporated in the study material pertaining to M. A. Gandhian Thought certain ill-motivated, baseless and erroneous statements not relevant to the context''. This ``is character assassination and defamation of certain people in public life, adversely affecting the reputation of the university and is unbecoming of a university professor".

The letter said the professor had been placed under suspension "in the public interest and the interest of the university." It also contemplates initiating an enquiry "into the grave allegations" against him.

The controversial portion, since withdrawn, was found in the lesson sent to the Tamil medium students. According to university sources, the portion referring to the jewellery, footwear and clothes seized from Ms. Jayalalithaa's residence during raids by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption was included in 1997-98 in the paper `Gandhian Approach to Science, Technology and Development' (in the context of consumerist lifestyle), which was earlier referred to as `Gandhian Approach to Rural Development'. Though a group of scholars (some of whom are dead now) had written the lessons, it was Dr. Jeyaprakasam, as head of the department, who cleared them for print. The professor, questioned by university authorities about the controversial portion, owned moral responsibility for the lapse and recommended its withdrawal. He also regretted the inadvertent error.

Shock in academic circles

However, the suspension order, served without any formal enquiry, has shocked academic circles. It has specified that Dr. Jeyaprakasam remain in Madurai during the period of suspension and obtain prior permission of the authority concerned before leaving the headquarters.

University teachers are also concerned at the fate of Phil. and Ph. D. scholars working under Dr. Jeyaprakasam, a Gandhian worker and thinker. He is due for superannuation in 2008.

When contacted, the Vice-Chancellor described the suspension as "a routine affair" and did not wish to comment on it.

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