more-in MADURAI With the Madras High Court setting aside the appointment of Vice-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University P. P. Chellathurai on Thursday, uncertainty looms large over his continuance in office. While organisations like Save MKU Coalition and People’s Rights Protection Centre (PRPC) and staff associations like Tamil Nadu Federation of Universities' Faculty Associations (TANFUFA) have demanded that the VC relinquish his post immediately, university sources said that he was not likely to do so since the court had allowed him to go on appeal. “In a similar situation, when former VC Kalyani Mathivanan’s appointment was set aside by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, she did not attend the office. Within two weeks, she obtained an interim stay from the Supreme Court and returned to office,” a senior faculty member. University sources said that though Mr. Chellathurai was at the VC’s bungalow inside the campus on Friday, he did not attend office. The sources added that steps were being planned to swiftly appeal against the verdict in the apex court. S. Vanchinathan, State Coordinator, PRPC, however, said that Mr. Chellathurai continuing in the post was both morally and legally untenable. “He has the option to go on appeal. However, until the Supreme Court stays the judgement of Madras High Court, he cannot continue in office,” he said. Stating that the VC not attending office was not adequate, he said that Mr. Chellathurai must officially step down or the Governor’s office must remove him from the post in accordance with the High Court’s judgement. R. Murali, secretary, Save MKU Coalition, said that the university must not be allowed to spend for the appeal of the VC in Supreme Court. Meanwhile, university sources said that a Syndicate meeting is planned at the university on Saturday evening.

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