The members of the TNGCTA protested here on Tuesday in order to show their stand against the state government’s order declaring that the teachers and principals of government-aided and government colleges can contest in the Senate and Syndicate elections only after getting prior permission from it.

Gathering in front of the Government Arts College, Coimbatore, the members of the Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association (TNGCTA) demanded that the state revoke the order and allow them to participate in the elections freely.

The Government of Tamil Nadu had issued a Government Order (GO) dated 15.07.2016, directing that permission should be obtained for contesting in the Senate, Standing Committee on Academic Affairs, and Board of Studies elections. However, this has not gone down well with the teachers as they claimed that the motive was to control them.

“The contribution made by the teachers in such boards is enormous, both in the academic affairs and in the administrative area. The reasons attributed in the GO are absolutely unacceptable,” a senior member of the TNGCTA said.

The members also stated that the GO was reportedly vindictive in nature and an attack by the state government on the democratic rights of the teachers and principals, under the pretext of maintaining peace and academic atmosphere in the college campus.