HC issues 'Notice of Motion' to GRI

Madurai, Mar 5 (UNI) The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has ordered 'Notice of Motion' (notice issued before admitting the case) to the Union Human Resource and Development Ministry, Chief Secretary to Tamil Nadu Government, Central Vigilance Commission, UGC and the Registrar of Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI) on the alleged irregularities in the Deemed University.

Justice K Mohan Ram issued the Notice returnable within four weeks, following a writ petition jointly filed by the GRI Faculty Forum and Technical Staff Welfare Association.

The petitioners said the University was established at Gandhigram in Dindigul District for carrying forward Gandhian ideals in education. The Vice-President of India was the Chancellor of the University and it had performed exceptionally well till T Karunakaran was appointed the Vice-Chancellor (VC) in 2004.

Dr Karunakaran did not relinquish the posts of Secretary, Gandhigram Kattida Mayyam and Director, Rural Technology Centre, even after assuming office as VC. During his tenure, various projects involving huge expenditure were proposed by him in one capacity and approved in another capacity as the VC, giving a go-by to all norms of fair practice and flouting General Financial Rules laid down by the Union Government.

The Vice-Chancellor resigned in July 2007 immediately after the Syndicate lodged a complaint with the Chancellor. Subsequently, the petitioners approached the CVC, which in turn forwarded it to the State Chief Secretary, who did not follow up the matter for the past eight months. Hence, the writ petition was filed, the petitioners in their affidavit said.

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