Governor asks VCs to be vigilant, prompt and decisive

Kerala Governor P Sathasivam on Tuesday urged Vice-Chancellors to be vigilant, prompt and decisive in conduct of affairs of Universities and to ensure checks and balance are strengthened and not compromised.

In separate letters to the VCs, Sathasivam, who is the Chancellor of various varsities, issued the direction in the wake of the recent developments in the University College here, where a student was stabbed and blank answer sheets and a seal were recovered from the house of a key accused.

A Raj Bhavan press release, quoting Sathasivam, said that since the developments in the University college was widely covered by the electronic and print media,it "may give room in the mind of the common man to raise doubts about the sanctity of the examination system in vogue in any institution".

"Such an incident enjoins upon all concerned to introspec introspect the inbuilt check and balance systems, to have a look at the efficiency of supervisory layers which are in place in the University and to take all possible measures to uphold the secrecy, transparency and sanctity of the examination system the release stated.

The Governor had also said at a function here on Saturday last that "mischievous elements" must be kept out of campuses and had called for a code of conduct.

"In the aftermath of the University College incident, all stakeholders such as students and student organisations, which have connection with one or another political party should sit together and chart out a code of conduct for themselves with full respect to Fundamental Rights and students future," Sathasivam had said.