Thrissur college principal at loggerheads with SFI quits

Thrissur: The principal of the Sree Kerala Varma College here, A P Jayadevan, has submitted his resignation reportedly after serious disagreements with the SFI-led college students’ union.

The officials of the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) which runs the institution, have confirmed the resignation. However, they said that the resignation is yet to be accepted.

Even though Jayadevan has not mentioned any specific reason for his decision to quit in his resignation letter, the CDB sources conceded that the dispute with the college union was a major factor. Jayadevan remained incommunicado, and did not respond to telephone calls.

The union had raised objection to the decision of the college authorities to collect higher fees from the second-year degree students in the college. However, the college management argued that the higher fees was fixed by the university authorities and Parent Teacher Association of the college.

Recently, the boards allegedly placed on the campus by SFI to welcome the students in the beginning of the new academic year were removed as per the directive of the principal. The boards had raked up a controversy after it was allegged that they portrayed Lord Ayyappa in a distorted fashion. Three SFI members were later arrested by police in connection with the incident. tnn