Periyar University. File
| Photo Credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan
The Madras High Court on Friday (April 4, 2025) refused to quash a First Information Report (FIR) registered against Periyar University Vice-Chancellor (V-C) R. Jagannathan under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, as well as the charge of cheating under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan dismissed a petition filed by the V-C in January 2024 with a plea to quash the FIR on the ground that it had been registered on the basis of an allegedly false complaint lodged against him with “an ulterior motive” to tarnish his image and reputation.
In his quash petition, the V-C had said the university, established in 1997, had 27 departments and 118 affiliated colleges with jurisdiction over Salem, Dharmapuri, Namakkal, and Krishnagiri districts. It had secured the 59th rank in the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2023.
“When I took charge as the Vice-Chancellor (in July 2021), I found several irregularities, financial mismanagement, and other issues. I took steps to eradicate the irregularities and financial mismanagement and instituted departmental and legal proceedings against erring teaching and non-teaching staff, which caused serious resistance and threat to life and liberty,” he claimed.
Claiming to have found misappropriation of ₹23 lakh through forged documents in the distance education unit, and consequently suspending and terminating a few employees involved, the V-C denied the charge levelled against him of swindling university funds by establishing the Periyar University Technology Entrepreneurship Research (PUTER) Foundation.
He said PUTER Foundation was a non-profit company established as per a Government Order issued by the Higher Education Department on January 19, 2013.
In March 2023, the designation of Coordinator of PUTER Foundation was changed to CEO for administrative purposes. Making it clear that the university had not invested any funds in the company, the petitioner said the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and two professors from the general council were appointed as its directors, and that the successors to the posts of Vice-Chancellor and Registrar would continue to be the directors.
“The entire process of formation and registration of the company was duly and unanimously approved by the 114th Syndicate meeting held on the university premises on November 6, 2023,” he said.
He also stressed that the Deputy Secretaries to government in the Higher Education and Law departments; Director of Technical Education; Director of Collegiate Education; Director of Legal Studies; Director of Medical Education; and other Syndicate members had participated in the meeting.
“Setting up of PUTER Park is a legal act based on the directions issued under G.O.Ms.No. 6 of 2013. There is absolutely no intention to cheat or commit fraud… Without understanding the nature and functioning of a Section 8 company, the complainant gave an impression as if it is a private company of ours (V-C and other accused) and we will swindle money in the future after our retirement,” the petitioner said.
Charge under SC/ST Act
The V-C alo said that I. Elangovan, the complainant, had served as a lecturer in Vorhees College till 2009. During his service period, he had pursued a law course, in absentia, between 2003 and 2006, and got enrolled in the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in 2012. At present, the complainant is serving as the legal advisor for Periyar University Employees Union. “Using this as a tool, the 3rd respondent/de facto complainant used to create problems for the university whenever it takes action against erring employees,” he said.
He alleged that the complainant was in the habit of misusing the SC/ST (PoA) Act and denied the charge of having used cuss words referring to the caste of the complainant.
Published – April 04, 2025 11:19 am IST
