Minister boycotts Madras convocation

Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhian on Thursday stayed away from the 167th convocation of the University of Madras, escalating a lon g-running confrontation between the elected gov er nment and Governor R N Ravi over authority in higher education and the scope of the Raj Bhavan’s constit utional role.

- HD Bureau

The ceremony, presided over by the Gov ernor as Chancellor, went ahead without the partic ipation of the state’s higher education department, dr awing attention to a widening institutional rift at one of the country’s oldest universities.