Maharaja’s College talks on track

KOCHI: The talks convened by higher education additional chief secretary K.M. Abraham with agitating students and teachers of Maharaja’s College are inching towards resolution with both sides coming to an agreement on 80 per cent of the contentious issues on the autonomy status issue.

“We believe that the talks are proceeding to a solution as we could come to a solution on a majority of issues in the talks on Saturday,” said AKGCT general secretary Dr K.K. Damodaran after the talks. He, however, refused to name the remaining contentious clauses.

The government side represented also by Ernakulam district collector M.G. Rajamanickam and college principal P. V. Sasi and the strikers led by leaders of AKGCT and SFI decided to hold another round of talks to resolve the remaining issues. “The strike will continue till then,” said Damodaran.

The government has agreed not to start self-financing courses as part of autonomy at Maharaja’s College and has also stipulated fees on a par with other colleges.

It has also agreed to meet reservation norms in admissions and will conduct the exams in a secret manner while ensuring transparency. It has also allowed student and teacher representatives on the governing council of the college. These decisions have made the strikers happy which enabled the talks to progress.

Damodaran said that the government intended to give not only academic autonomy but financial and administrative autonomy to the college which made the proposal not fully acceptable. He said further talks may take place on Sunday.