Political parties want govt to take over Law Academy
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Thiruvananthapuram: Barring the CPI-M that is leading the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, all other political parties, including the ruling ally CPI, have demanded the state government take over the Kerala Law Academy.
This came as the student protest demanding that Principal Lekshmi Nair step down entered its 18th day.
At the party's executive meeting held here on Saturday the Congress passed a unanimous resolution demanding the takeover of the academy from the Nairs. Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony also took part in it.
"The longer the CPI-M led State government takes to intervene, the more the doubts over its intentions would increase," said Congress President Sudheeran, later speaking to reporters, here after the meeting.
The student protest, now into its third week, has also raised charges of nepotism against the Nairs.
They had produced an audio of her curt and rude behaviour that was handed over to the three day syndicate probe committee of the Kerala University.
"Besides charges of nepotism raised as revealed, the probe committee also said that all rules are being flouted by the management and even the present ownership of the institution is in doubt," Sudheeran said.
When the academy was set up in 1968, it was under a committee that had the State Governor as its patron, besides the Chief Minister, ministers and judges.
"However, now that's not the case and hence, the State government should take over," Sudheeran said.
The Syndicate probe team report given to the Vice Chancellor of the University that reached the hands of the media revealed that the prestigious five decade old institution has been destroyed by its principal and her acts.
The probe team has validated several charges brought against the principal by the students and their parents. These include her attack on students using castiest overtures.
They also included how her son's fiance was given internal marks without looking into actual performance. Moreover, Nair did not produce any document that was asked for by the probe team.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its stir against the Kerala Law Academy with former State BJP President V. Muraleedharan , on Friday turning his 48-hour hunger strike into an indefinite one.
Speaking to the media the BJP said that they were determined to ensure that law prevails in the Academy.
"We are fully with the student protests and with regards to the ownership of the land that the Academy stands on, we will continue the protests and take it up politically as the rival fronts in the State have always shown a soft corner to this institution," said Muraleedharan.
Senior CPI legislator and former Minister C. Divakaran said there is no going back on the demand. The state government has to step in and take over the institution, he said.
However, CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who arrived at the campus to meet the protesters slammed the media and the political parties.
"The protests should be seen as a student protest only and not as a political one and the media should not complicate issues," said Balakrishnan.
Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that with the state government not acting on the genuine needs of the students and the issues raised, he has now asked the Governor P. Sathasivam who is also the chancellor to immediately intervene.
Established by Narayanan Nair, who is now the institute's director, the Academy has among its alumni many leading politicians, judges, lawyers, high ranking police officers and bureaucrats.
