Chennai:

Many state-run universities in Tamil Nadu are starved of funds and are in a dire financial crisis and unable to pay salaries to teachers, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi said on Saturday.

Their autonomy has been “severely eroded to such an extent that it was not the university syndicates but the state Secretariat that runs the varsities,” the Governor alleged.

“Higher Education scenario in Tamil Nadu is no better. About 25 lakh students are enrolled in our 20 state universities. Most of the universities are starved of funds and are in dire financial crisis not even able to pay salaries to teachers,” Ravi said in his address on the eve of Republic Day.

The universities, he claimed, have not received their due shares of fund from the state government for the last many years. And as a result, many were functioning with less than 50 per cent of teachers’ strength.

“Universities have no money to recruit teachers. In Madras University, which used to be our nation’s pride, 66 per cent of teachers’ posts are vacant. Due to continuous non-receipt of government funds, some universities have begun filing their Income Tax returns declaring themselves non-state Universities,” Ravi who is the Chancellor of universities said.

As many as 10 universities were without Registrars and Controllers of Examination for several years and the posts were being run on an ad-hoc basis. “Autonomy of universities have been severely eroded to such an extent that it is not the university syndicates but the state Secretariat runs them,” he alleged.

With regard to framing the curriculum and syllabus which were statutorily under the domain of the Academic Council of the University, universities were compelled to follow a common sub-standard syllabus prepared by the state government Council for Higher Education. Upright and honest university officials were framed in false and fabricated cases and subjected to humiliating police harassment, he alleged.

“Absence of Vice-Chancellors practically brings universities under the direct control of the government because the Secretary, Higher Education, acts as the de-facto Vice-Chancellor. Not allowing appointments of Vice-Chancellors on untenable concocted flimsy grounds is a devious way to erode the autonomy of the university through back door,” a Raj Bhavan release quoting the Governor said.

The net result was a steep decline in the quality of education. Due to such a decline more and more graduates were jobless as a majority were un-employable. General standards of research was very low. Of the over six thousand PhDs that our universities produce every year not even five per cent could qualify for NET/JRF – minimum eligibility standard for research. “Future of millions of students are in jeopardy,” Ravi alleged.

In terms of learning outcome of students, especially in schools, Tamil Nadu was among the bottom few states. Quoting the Annual Status of Education Reports for the last few years he said the status of learning in government schools revealed a ‘very disturbing truth.’ “About 75 per cent of our high school students in government schools cannot read even second standard textbooks nor can they recognise all the two-digit numbers between 11 and 99,” he said.

Since government schools catered largely to the economically poor, steep decline in standards of learning in the state-run schools further jeopardised the future of the poor and accentuated long-term social and economic injustice to them.

He expressed concern over the increasing menace of illicit drugs in and around the campuses, social discrimination, caste crimes, highest suicide rate in the state, and ‘several modules and sleeper cells of terrorist networks operating in various parts of our state.’ 

“This (modules and sleeper cells of terrorist networks) is a very serious national security concern. It is vitiating our social harmony and has potential to severely disrupt our economy. I urge the people to remain vigilant and the enforcement agencies to aggressively root them (terror networks) out,” Ravi said.

He cautioned the people to be vigilant against anti-national elements and vested interest persons trying to disrupt the peace, divide and fragment the society in the name of race, religion, language, and caste. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, on the occasion of Thiruvalluvar Day on Wednesday, paid floral tributes to a portrait of the saint-poet in saffron prompting Congress leader K Selvaperunthagai to condemn depiction of the savant in saffron as unacceptable and urged the Centre to immediately recall him.

Paying tributes, RN Ravi, in a post on ‘X,’ praised Thiruvalluvar for bequeathing Tirukkural and hailed the classic work as unparalleled wisdom, and a matchless guide.

Thiruvalluvar Day is observed on the second day of Tamil month ‘Thai’ to honour the saint-poet.

In the Raj Bhavan premises, Mr Ravi showered flowers on a decorated portrait, which showed the poet in saffron with religious marks like Rudraksha beads, sacred ash and kumkum.

Reacting to it, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K Selvaperunthagai said depicting Thiruvalluvar in saffron clothing was “unacceptable”. It is against the law to use a drawing of Thiruvalluvar with religious leanings and not using the government recognised portrait, the Congress leader alleged.

“It is condemnable and regrettable that the Governor, who has the duty to uphold law, is doing this. The union government should recall the Governor who is continuously insulting not only the Tamil Nadu government but also the Tamil race and Thiruvalluvar,” the TNCC chief said in a post on social media.

In ‘X,’ Mr Ravi said: “The nation remembers with profound gratitude and utmost reverence Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil patron saint of Bharat. Several thousand years ago he bequeathed us the unparalleled wisdom Tirukkural, the matchless guide for every individual and institution. In the Sanatan civilisational tradition of Bharat he taught us the sublimity of devotion to God and profoundity of right conduct in our individual and collective life.”

The Nation remembers with profound gratitude and utmost reverence Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil patron saint of Bharat. Several thousand years ago he bequeathed us the unparalleled wisdom Tirukkural, the matchless guide for every individual and institution. In the Sanatan… pic.twitter.com/AMt58ZcLY5

— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) January 15, 2025

Further, the Governor said: “He laid down a comprehensive virtuous code for all sections of the society as well as the rulers. Though we are celebrating Thiruvalluvar Day today, he remains our everyday guide and hence should be remembered and celebrated everyday. Thanks to Hon’ble PM @narendramodi who is a great devotee of Thiruvalluvar, teachings of Tirukkural are now resonating across the world.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi was unable to digest that the state was developing and his decision not to address the Assembly was “childish”, Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Saturday.

The state Legislative Assembly has been witnessing strange scenes for the last few years after Mr Ravi took over as Governor, he said. “The Governor comes to the Assembly but returns without addressing the House. That’s why I had said that his actions were childish,” Mr Stalin told the Assembly.

As per Article 176 of the Constitution, the Governor has to deliver his address to the Legislative Assembly at the commencement of the session. “But he appears to be keen on violating the rules in a planned manner,” the Chief Minister said winding up the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address.

In 2022, this Governor delivered his address without altering the speech. But in the following three years, he avoided delivering his customary address citing ‘absurd’ reasons, the Chief Minister said.

Singing the Tamil anthem (Tamil Thai Valthu) before the session starts and playing the national anthem after the address has been the tradition for long. “I think, the Governor is unable to digest the fact that Tamil Nadu is developing. I may be an ordinary person but this Legislative Assembly came into existence due to the feelings of crore of people,” Mr Stalin said.

This House cannot bear to see the Governor doing something with political motives that drags the position and responsibility he held by not respecting the dignity of this Assembly, not respecting the people’s feelings, and ‘daring’ to insult the Tamil anthem. “We should not see such things again,” the Chief Minister added.

On January 6, Mr Ravi left the Assembly without delivering the customary address. The Raj Bhavan later said that he left ‘in deep anguish’ as the national anthem wasn’t played.

“Disrespecting the Constitution does not augur well for democracy,” the Governor had then said. Reacting, Stalin had said, “it was childish of the Governor choosing not to read the government address.” In his reply to the House today, Stalin reminded that the Dravidian uprising arose against neglect, humiliation, and oppression. Stalin, who is president of DMK, exuded confidence that his party would certainly form the government for the seventh time.

On the opposition AIADMK members turning up in the Assembly wearing black shirts and sarees to protest against the state government over the Anna University student sexual assault case, he sought to know if they had the courage to stage a ‘black shirt’ protest against the Governor who continued to insult Tamil Nadu.

“I would have been happy if the AIADMK had worn black shirts to condemn the Union Government or the national education policy,” the Chief Minister said.

On the law and order situation, Stalin said the police functioned independently and brought down the crimes. He was a liberal in permitting agitations by the opposition parties, the CM said.

Later, Leader of the House Duraimurugan asked Speaker M Appavu to pronounce his ruling on the discussion between the Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami over the facts on filing FIR in the Pollachi sexual assault case.

Appavu stated that after perusing the evidence submitted to him by the Chief Minister and Palaniswami, it was clear that the FIR was registered twelve days after the crime was reported.

“The Chief Minister had conveyed the correct information to the House,” Appavu said.

As the AIADMK members protested against his ruling, Appavu said he would rest the case at this juncture without going into details, and adjourned the House sine die. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

Actor-turned-politician Vijay will meet Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi in Chennai today at 1 pm amid outrage over the sexual assault incident at Anna University. 

The sexual assault of a second-year student on the campus of Anna University on December 23 has sparked protests across Tamil Nadu. The incident has led to the arrest of one person and four special police teams are working on the case. 

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Women Welfare Federation staged protests outside Anna University’s Guindy campus, demanding justice and stricter security measures for women in educational institutions.

Vijay, the chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), described the incident as “deeply shocking and painful” on Wednesday in a statement posted on X. 

“Although the police have informed that a person who sexually assaulted has been arrested, I urge the Tamil Nadu government to take swift legal action against him and ensure appropriate punishment. Also, if anyone else is involved in this heinous crime, appropriate action should also be taken against them promptly,” Vijay wrote on X. 

Vijay suggested the use of the Nirbhaya Fund to install smart poles equipped with emergency buttons, CCTV cameras, and telephones in vulnerable areas. He also called for adequate restroom facilities in public spaces, and launching mobile apps and emergency hotlines dedicated to women’s safety.

On Saturday, the Madras High Court constituted an all-women IPS officers’ Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising Sneha Priya, Ayman Jamal, and Brinda. The SIT is tasked with investigating not only the sexual assault but also the leak of the victim’s FIR.

The court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the victim. It further directed Anna University to ensure the victim receives free education, along with boarding, lodging, and counselling support. Additionally, the High Court issued warnings to the Tamil Nadu DGP, mandating strict measures to prevent FIR leaks in future sexual offence cases.

The incident has intensified political pressure on the ruling DMK government. BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai staged a dramatic protest on Friday, whipping himself outside his home as a symbolic gesture against what he called the “failure” of the DMK in ensuring women’s safety.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has dispatched a two-member fact-finding team to investigate the case and monitor the government’s response.

Chennai:

A Molotov cocktail, called ‘petrol bomb’ in local parlance, was lobbed by a man in front of the Raj Bhavan’s main gate on Wednesday, an incident which drew the opposition’s ire over the handling of law and order by the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu.

The Raj Bhavan asserted it was “attacked” and that “miscreants carrying bombs tried to barge in through the main gate.” “However, alert sentries prevented and assailants hurled two petrol bombs inside Raj Bhavan and escaped,” a post on Raj Bhavan’s official ‘X’ handle claimed.

Opposition AIADMK and BJP slammed the government over the incident that happened outside the official residence of the State Governor.

There was no damage, injuries to anyone and there was no security lapse, a senior police official said, adding the man who threw the petrol bomb was immediately overpowered. He was identified as ‘Karukka’ Vinoth, a man with many pending cases against him.

On Sardar Patel Road, on the opposite side of the Raj Bhavan, the man tried to throw a bottle by around 3 PM and it was immediately noticed by policemen on duty near the main gate, Prem Anand Sinha, Additional Commissioner of Police (South), told reporters.

While alert police personnel were apprehending him, the man hurled the bottle which landed in front of the barricade placed before the main gate of the Raj Bhavan and there was no damage and no one was injured.

“There was no fire…there was some flame only on the wick, the bottle fell down and broke. He was caught and he had some more bottles and these were seized,” ‘Karukka’ Vinoth, aged 42, faces 14 criminal cases and he was out on bail recently. He is a resident of Teynampet here, a City Police release said.

Vinoth was the accused in two similar incidents, including the one relating to the BJP office here over a year ago.

Within the past one week, he was freed from jail after he secured bail. Before the incident on Wednesday, he consumed liquor and he is being questioned on his motive, Sinha said.

“Only one petrol bomb was used; it did not create any impact the way the accused expected,” he said and ruled out any security lapse.

A case has been registered and the accused was remanded in custody.

Asked if he had any idea about the Governor’s ‘movement’ outside of the Raj Bhavan and whether he had come prepared anticipating any such thing, the official said ‘it does not appear to be so.’ Opposition parties strongly condemned the incident and criticised the government over ‘deterioration’ of law and order.

Leader of Opposition and AIADMK chief, Edappadi K Palaniswami said a scenario of ‘insecurity’ prevailed for the Raj Bhavan itself, meant to be a high-security campus. Expressing shock, he said the incident illustrated ‘deterioration’ of law and order in Tamil Nadu.

Former chief minister O Panneerselvam also blamed the alleged deterioration of law and order. VK Sasikala, confidante of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa said the incident was tantamount to intimidating the Governor.

BJP state president K Annamalai said on X: “Incidentally, it is the same person who attacked @BJP4TamilNadu headquarters in Chennai in Feb 2022, is held responsible for the attack on Raj Bhavan today, ” he added.

Union Minister L Murugan also slammed the DMK government vis-a-vis law and order.

A Molotov cocktail is an incendiary device, usually filled with petrol and a piece of cloth is used as a wick to light it. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)