Author: Sam Daniel
Publication: NDTV.com
Date: September 23, 2008
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080066393
It is being seen as a coup of sorts by a bishop.
The administration of the 128-year-old American College in Madurai has allegedly
been taken over illegally by the bishop.
The college was founded by American missionaries
but was being run by an independent governing council with the bishop as a
nominal head. But recently the bishop suspended the principal, reportedly
in an illegally convened governing council, stormed the college and made his
chosen man the principal incharge.
Principal Dr T Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar defends
that actions, saying: "It's a Christian college and as early as 1934
the founding fathers wanted the college to be independent of the church. And
the faculty, students and all would like me cherish it and protect."
(Watch)
The state government has not accepted the
bishop's action. The Madras High Court has restrained the principal from carrying
out his work. Now there is fear and unrest on the campus. The bishop says
the college is an integral part of the church.
"It's dichotomised as internal administration
by the principal and the controlling authority by the bishop. But this part
is normally concealed," says Christopher Asir, Bishop in Madurai, CSI.
Caught in the tussle for power are students.
"For the past then days we had no classes.
Some classes are held under trees. We want the government to step in,"
complains one.
Christian colleges are increasingly seen as
power centres and the church is attempting to takeover at least five such
renowned Christian colleges in Tamil Nadu.
But these colleges say that will be downfall
of their standards and want the bishops just to look after their spiritual
work.
