THE CASE AND THE CAKE

Today is an important day. By 10.30 AM I was promptly present in 12^th Court of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court where the judgement on American College case was to be pronounced. After the mentioning time, the Hon’ble Judge took just less than three minutes to pronounce the operational portion of the order. Very little could be understood by any one at that point. Later, the advocate read the entire text in the Registry.

 Till this moment I write this (6.10 PM), the Registry has not released any copy to anybody. Before this, already there are many rumors about the judgement. Even some of the press men looked misinformed. Nothing could be done without a copy. However, some damage control was done.

Anyway, my friend tells me that I must tell everybody what I got to know from the court and the advocate who read the report, about the main points of the judgement and then cut a BIG CAKE in the Town Hall or in some Banquet Hall in a hotel. I asked “Why cake?” He says that every good or favourable judgement should be announced only with CAKE EATING. My tongue is already wet with the mentioning of the cake. I will tell you now briefly the operational portion:

1.      Mr. Davamani’s petition asking for ‘the notice to be issued’ before the withdrawal of the degree was allowed by the judge as this has affected his civil right of being heard. Earlier Alagappa University had contended that when there was an apparent error on record there was no need to issue any notice before withdrawing the degree. Now Alagappa University will issue notice and decide. No one should think that the court has allowed “an interdisciplinary degree to Mr. Davamani.” The court has given just four weeks time to AU to complete this process.

2.       Madurai Kamaraj University after receiving the verdict from AU, should now ask in writing (not over phone) to UGC whether the said PhD degree (Education!) is relevant to American College. This, UGC ought to do, forwarding a written explanation.

3.       Mr. Davamani’s continuation in office is subject to these processes and final approval once again by MKU.(That is four weeks plus).

4.        Dr. Amirtharajan’s Writ Petition is treated closed meaning that he was given the liberty to once again raise all those issues including the issue of fictitious API Score (427) before the court, at any point and in the event of miscarriage of justice. (No one should think that “closing of a writ petition is “dismissal of a writ petition.” The judge closes the petition after proposing a remedy still ensuring the right of the petitioner to agitate his plea if at all it becomes necessary later). This means Dr. Amir will be still alive and kicking carefully watching what AU and MKU would do in terms of the court directions.

Now, I think you will understand why my friend proposed CAKE CUTTING. But, now I tell him that I will buy only half a kilogram of Thirunelveli Halwa and distribute. I will tell a detailed story tomorrow when I get the certified copy of the judgement.