Opposition asks Kerala Guv to intervene in Law Academy issue
Thiruvananthapuram: As the students' agitation demanding the resignation of Kerala Law Academy Law College Principal entered the 27th day, the Congress-led UDF Opposition on Tuesday sought the intervention of state Governor to resolve the issue.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala submitted a petition to Governor Justice (Retd) P Sathasivam in this regard on Tuesday.
In the petition, he pointed out that it was improper to allow Lekshmi Nair, the Principal of the Kerala Law Academy Law College, to continue in office in the light of the inquiry ordered into her degrees and the FIR lodged against her under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The Governor has forwarded the petition to Chief Minister Pinaryi Vijayan for immediate appropriate consideration and necessary action.
The petition has also been forwarded to the Vice Chancellor, University of Kerala for appropriate consideration, a release Governor's office said.
Talking to reporters here after submitting the petition, Chennithala attacked the government on the issue and said Chief Minister was trying to prolong the agitation.
"The approach of Chief Minister to suppress the agitation does not befit his position," Chennithala added.
Meanwhile, an ABVP activist today climbed atop a tree in front of the College and threatened to commit suicide.
He demanded the arrest of Lekshmi Nair and impounding of her passport.
Later, he was brought down by police after holding talks with him.
The fast by Congress MLA K Muraleedharan and BJP state secretary V V Rajesh, in support of the students' protest, continued in front of the Academy.
A meeting convened on Saturday by the State Education Minister C Raveendranath to end the agitation failed to break the impasse as students stuck to their main demand of Nair's resignation, while the management maintained that she has been kept away from the post for next five years.
The Law Academy is in the eye of a storm over alleged irregularities in providing internal marks and harassment of students by Lekshmi Nair, daughter of college Director N Narayanan Nair, a close relative of a former CPI(M) MLA.
The students belonging to ABVP, KSU and AISF, under a joint action council had launced the strike.
Though SFI, students wing of pro-CPI-M, also joined the strike, it later called off the stir after management agreed to keep away Lekshmi Nair from the post of principal.