Coimbatore, Nov. 14
Eight days after an FIR was made against Dr. A. Ganapathy, Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University, it has come to light that the Madras High Court has temporarily stayed the investigation in the case.
The convocation of the Bharathiar University is held on Tuesday and there was speculation as to whether the Vice-Chancellor would attend it. The interim order has made it clear that the VC will be present. Interestingly, the chief guest of the graduation ceremony is Justice M.M. Sundresh, Judge of the Madras High Court. Governor of Tamil Nadu and Chancellor of the university Banwarilal Purohit is also here to attend.
The FIR, made under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act 2015 on November 6, was based on a complaint filed by Dr. Srilakshmi Prabha.
Though the interim order is said to have been passed late Friday evening by Justice M.S. Ramesh, it came to public knowledge only late Monday night. The stay will be in operation till November 24.
Dr. Prabha, who completed Ph.D. from the university in 2011, had alleged in her complaint that the university did not follow the reservation norms and denied her a job . Besides, her attempt to secure a Post-Doctoral Fellowship of the University Grants Commission was scuttled by the Vice-Chancellor, she had alleged. She had lodged a complaint, which has been registered under three provisions of the SC/ST Act, as she believed that she was being harassed based on her caste.
Taking objection to the FIR being registered by a Sub-Inspector without an inquiry, the Judge has pointed out that this had been done “in spite of the knowledge that the person named in the FIR is a constitutional authority holding a high ranking and responsible post”.
In the meantime there have been sporadic protests against the Vice-Chancellor attending the university convocation here on November 14. N. Paneer Selvam, President of the Social Justice Party, who has been spearheading the protests seeking “justice for Dr. Prabha”, told SimpliCity that he has sought an audience with the Governor to present her case.