Tuesday, September 23, 2008, (Madurai)
It is being seen as a coup of sorts by a bishop. The administration of the 128-year-old American College in Madurai has allegedly been taken over illegally by the bishop.
The college was founded by American missionaries but was being run by an independent governing council with the bishop as a nominal head. But recently the bishop suspended the principal, reportedly in an illegally convened governing council, stormed the college and made his chosen man the principal incharge.
Principal Dr T Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar defends that actions, saying: "It's a Christian college and as early as 1934 the founding fathers wanted the college to be independent of the church. And the faculty, students and all would like me cherish it and protect."
The state government has not accepted the bishop's action. The Madras High Court has restrained the principal from carrying out his work. Now there is fear and unrest on the campus. The bishop says the college is an integral part of the church.
"It's dichotomised as internal administration by the principal and the controlling authority by the bishop. But this part is normally concealed," says Christopher Asir, Bishop in Madurai, CSI.
Caught in the tussle for power are students.
Principal Dr T Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar defends that actions, saying: "It's a Christian college and as early as 1934 the founding fathers wanted the college to be independent of the church. And the faculty, students and all would like me cherish it and protect."
The state government has not accepted the bishop's action. The Madras High Court has restrained the principal from carrying out his work. Now there is fear and unrest on the campus. The bishop says the college is an integral part of the church.
"It's dichotomised as internal administration by the principal and the controlling authority by the bishop. But this part is normally concealed," says Christopher Asir, Bishop in Madurai, CSI.
Caught in the tussle for power are students.
0 comments:
Post a Comment