Chennai: It was the Tamil Nadu chief secretary, M Sai Kumar, who had insisted on interdepartmental efforts to prevent students and youth from participating in protests organised by the Left parties and the TN Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a communication from special secretary to govt Rashmi Siddharth Zagade has revealed.The communication, dated Aug 14, had marked the matter as “most immediate” and requested authorities to furnish an action taken report on or before Aug 20.The issue assumes significance as the Directorate of Collegiate Education (DoCE) faced heavy backlash from students on Wednesday for its circular, dated Aug 17, calling for interdepartmental efforts to prevent students from participating in such protests.However, within hours of the circular reaching student circles, the DoCE revoked the order. Joint director P Cynthiaselvi declined to provide the reason for revoking it and said she was merely acting on orders from the DoCE commissioner and higher education officials.Higher education secretary Dheeraj Kumar did not respond to calls or messages from TOI.Meanwhile, the special secretary’s communication that surfaced on Wednesday noon has revealed that the decision was taken following a law and order review meeting chaired by the chief secretary on Jul 28. Apart from DoCE, Madras University had also instructed its affiliated colleges not to allow students to participate in such protests. Registrar Rita John confirmed the communication, but said that it would be recalled.The circular attracted heavy criticism from political parties, including those in alliance with TVK. “ The govt must tell what action it is going to take against the official responsible for the order,” Su Venkatesan, CPM Lok Sabha member, said.The DMK, too, condemned the circular. “The circular is against democracy and the right to dissent. Why did the TVK govt not name ABVP (student-organisation of RSS) in its circular,” asked N Ezhilan, former DMK MLA.Student organisations, including SFI and AISF, took to the streets condemning the order.
