Even as the Kerala University Syndicate decided to debar Kerala Law Academy Principal Lekshmi Nair from examination duty for five years, students, who have been protesting for the last three weeks, refused to give up their agitation.
Calling the Syndicate’s decision ineffective, students said they would not stop their protest against Principal Lekshmi Nair until their demands are fulfilled. They even burned an effigy of Lekshmi during the protest.
“The college principal is responsible for all these issues happening. So, until she is removed we will continue our protests. As far as I know syndicate has no right to remove the principal, but they can take away the affiliation of the college. Even government cannot dismiss Lekshmi Nair, but they can pressure management to do so. We are hope that the government will act immediately but until then the protests will go on,” Jaik C Thomas, SFI state president told The News Minute.
Meanwhile, the Syndicate has also recommended that the government take action over the issue.
Congress leaders are also demanding Lekshmi’s resignation, a day after objecting to the Syndicate motion that action be taken against the college. Furthermore, they now want the Syndicate to recommend that the government take up other issues plaguing the institution as well.
“Students are raising allegations over the examinations being conducted, over college authorities trying to breach the privacy of girl students, issues with Lekshmi Nair and some illegal land dealings by the college. We need a solution for all these issues. We will continue the protests until all the issues are solved and the Principal is removed,” reiterated KS Sabarinathan, Congress MLA from Aruvikkara.
He also alleged that the CPI(M)-led government was trying to dilute the huge student uprising by neglecting the issue.
“When CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan visited the protest site, he tried to simplify the issue saying that it was just a student agitation and there is no need to politicise it. So, we have doubts over the Syndicate decisions,” he said.
Student unions also alleged that the Syndicate’s decision was intended to protect the college management and the principal.
The Syndicate decisions were based on a report filed by the Sub-Committee constituted by the Kerala University Syndicate. The sub -committee report had confirmed that all the allegations raised by the unions against the principal were true.
Student unions with the support of political parties have been protesting against Lekshmi Nair alleging that the principal’s behaviour was not befitting of her position. There were also allegations that she showed partiality to some students in giving marks and attendance.