Let Peace be restored in The American College, Madurai

The American College, Madurai, known for academic excellence and peaceful work environment, has lost its position during the second half tenure of rule of Dr.T.Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar as Principal and Secretary.  The cause behind this scenario could be attributed to the overriding behaviour of The Principal above the Governing Council.  During the first half of his tenure, his position was weak as his eligibility for the post of principal was challenged in the court since he had only less than 55 per cent marks in PG programme.  Once, the exemption was obtained by the Governing Council, he sidelined and disrespected the Council, and worked against the expectation of the Council.   In fact, Chinnaraj manipulated the members of the Council and maintained a parallel Council to suit to his will and wish.  This was the start of problems in the good old institution and the present unpleasant environment he wants to continue even after his retirement.

The former/retired Principal Chinnaraj Joseph did not conduct the council for the past two years, though he had to get his Secretary-ship renewed by the council in 2009 as it is required to be renewed after every 3 years (DCE.Mu.Mu.N.60623 F/2000-2 dated9-11-2000). He continued to act as Principal and Secretary since 2009 without getting the sanction of the college Governing Council though it is mandatory. He held on to his position as Principal and Secretary, citing legal reasons as an excuse. The application for re-employment can be sent three months ahead of his retirement date. But he had sent the proposal only on November 1, 2010 without the recommendation of the President. As per the Government norms (Na.Ka No.3497/P1/1989), if the retiring person is a Principal and Secretary of a college, his reemployment proposal has to be sent by the President of the Governing Council.  Also, the President is the competent authority to issue any certificates that are mandatory.  Chinnaraj’s proposal for reemployment was returned on 19^th November for the reasons stated above.  Chinnaraj Joseph wanted to use the same excuse – legal hurdles - he had used to continue as principal for re-employment as well. However, his clarification that he could not conduct the Governing Council did not convince the authorities and the application for re-employment can not be proposed by the incumbent himself, his application was rejected on 30^th November 2010 which resulted in a vacancy.

The President and the Secretary are the only two officers of the Council and hence as the Principal and Secretary had retired from service, the responsibility fell on to the President to appoint a Principal-in-charge, to fill the vacancy. Hence, Dr. R. Mohan, Head of the Department of Economics, the senior-most professor who is efficient, sincere and clean was appointed as Acting Principal after having got the concurrence of the majority of the Council members, as the Council could not be convened immediately. The same was recorded in the court on Dec.2, while Chinnaraj’s writ petition came up in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court.

The court has very definitely rejected the plea filed by Chinnaraj saying that he is retired as Principal and that no individual is indispensable for any institution and ultimately an individual cannot be identified as the institution. The verdict also asserted that re-employment is not given automatically and that grant of re-employment was based upon students’ interest and not a service benefit granted to the teacher. The verdict also pointed out that the President of the Governing Council had already relieved the petitioner from the post of Principal and also made alternative arrangements. Subsequently the Director of Collegiate Education approved the appointment of Dr.R.Mohan as Acting Principal.  The DCE sanction and police escort was given based on this court verdict. An emergency Governing Council was held on 12 Dec. in which 10 out of 14 members (legitimate members as per The Registrar of Societies, Madurai) were present wherein Prof. Mohan’s appointment was ratified.

Mr. Chinnaraj claims that he had handed over charge to his friend P.R. Anbudurai (who has a record of anti-college activities, allegations of corruption in land-deal when he held the post of Bursar before 2006) on Dec 2 after the court verdict - an outright violation of justice. Can the charge of such a responsible post be handed over to a friend when the President had appointed another person as Principal-in-charge? Also, Chinnaraj’s statement reveals the fact that he had tried to hold on to his position after retirement (Nov.21) and had handed over charge (as per his claim) only on Dec.2 (12 days after retirement) which is proof of him being a power monger.

Solomon Pappiah, an alumnus of The American College claims that the Bishop is going to sell the college property. It only underlines his ignorance regarding the legal framework of the college. As per the college bye-law, any purchase or disposal should be recommended by the Finance and Property Committee and ratified by the Council. The President, the Bishop is not a member of the Finance and Property Committee but it is chaired by the Principal and Secretary. How can the president dispose of any property when he is not a part of the recommending body?  This is just a false, catchy piece of information without any truth in it.  The retired Principal had used and is using Solomon Pappiah, a celebrity to tote this false information to the public so as to capture their attention effectively and to stir animosity against the Bishop. He did it once before in 2008 during the legal dispute and managed to portray himself as the saviour of the American College. That success has made Chinnaraj adopt the same strategy once again to try and gain possession of the College by harnessing public support and sympathy for himself.

One of the elected faculty members of the Governing Council remarked that it is a black day for the college as soon as the announcement of Chinnaraj Joseph as Principal was made and it has proved true. The college has witnessed drastic events with cases of forgery and misappropriation of funds against the Principal and money being directly collected from students and not through the bank by an illegitimate bursar, Premkumar. On the academic side, students who did not participate in the strike he organised were made to fail (M.K.University had to interfere with a third valuation to render justice) and students who supported him were made to pass (queries on this were suppressed), faculty were issued memos and termination orders in tune with his mood swings and retired faculty were not given their terminal benefits.  This was considered a temporary phase on the belief that the college will automatically regain its stability and glory either when the Governing Council meets or when Chinnaraj retires. But, even after retirement, he is reluctant to let go, continuing to occupy the Principal’s residence and shouting slogans with his supporters, getting persons to file complaints in the DVAC and the police, propagating false information (no proof is given, yet the media reports it) through interviews to newspapers, magazines and TV channel with the sole objective of preventing the college from functioning normally.

On the one hand, he is trying to portray himself as the savior of the college while on the other he is disrupting the functioning of the college.  His indulgence in such activities will definitely harm the interest of the students. Did the President (Bishop) resort to such activities for the past two years, when Chinnaraj was occupying the post? Does this not prove who has more concern for the college and for the students?

If the college is to be rescued, the Governing Council has to function regularly as before which will ensure that all activities of the college focus on students’ welfare and in turn the society at large. Chinnaraj has ruined this missionary institution breaking all well established traditions, ethos and culture. The monarchy for the past one and half years has deprived of the freedom and democracy enjoyed by the faculty, non teaching and students.  Let this go with him.

By

Dr.R.Mohan

Acting Principal

The American College

Madurai-2