TN Minister Ponmudy criticises Governor Ravi on his refusal to sign honorary doctorate to freedom fighter Sankaraiah
Oct 25, 2023
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 25 : Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy on Wednesday criticised Governor RN Ravi on his refusal to sign the doctorate award documents of freedom fighter N Sankaraiah.
Higher Education Minister Ponmudy said that if the Governor is interested in the welfare of the freedom fighters in the state then he should sign the doctorate so that it can be presented at the upcoming convocation of the Madurai Kamaraj University.
"I want to inform, particularly the Governor (RN Ravi), who shows that he is interested in the welfare of families of the state's freedom fighters. I want to explain to the Governor as well as to the people that N Sankaraiah is nearly 100 years old and has fought for freedom. That is why the Tamil Nadu government has also honoured him."
The Minister said that both the University's Syndicate and the Senate approved the doctorate but the Governor refused to sign it even when it is his duty.
"The Madurai University rule states that if the Syndicate or the Senate wants to give an honourable doctorate degree to a person, they have to pass it in the Senate. Both the Syndicate on August 16, 2023 and the Senate on September 20, 2023, passed a resolution granting the honorary doctorate to Sankaraiah. But the Governor has not signed it. He refused. He instructed the university not to include it in the subject," he said.
He further said, "I kindly inform the governor that if he is really interested in the welfare of the freedom fighters of the state, he has to sign it. It is his duty to sign it. He has to respect Sankaraiah, who was a freedom fighter. I request the Governor to sign it and include the name in the second convocation."
