UoJ lecturer resigns after UGC intervention barring private legal practice

A  senior lecturer attached to the Department of Law at the University of Jaffna tendered his resignation papers after the university, instructed by University Grants Commission (UGC) imposed a ban refusing to allow him to engage in private legal practice.

Dr. Kumaravadivel Guruparan said that he is compelled to resign from his  post because of the ban imposed on me by the Council of the University of Jaffna to engage in private legal practice, a decision taken at the 441st meeting of the Council on 09.11.2019.

"I was not consulted by the Council prior to the ban, in violation of fundamental principles of natural justice and fairness. The decision of the Council in my view constitutes an abject surrender of the autonomy that this University holds in trust for the benefit of its academic staff vide their academic freedom, a freedom that is quintessential to the proper functioning of any university," Dr Guruparan said in his  resignation letter which he shared in his blog.

A Fundamental Rights Petition was also filed by the lecturer in the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Council and that of the University Grants Commission which it purportedly relied on (Fundamental Rights Application Case Number SC/FR/498/2019). The matter is still pending before the Supreme Court for grant of leave to proceed and interim order.  "For close to eight months now I have been waiting with the hope that the Supreme Court will take up my case, but for reasons beyond my control the matter could not be taken up yet. Sadly, I have run out of patience. I wish for certainty in what I do. It is now time for me to take a firm decision and hence this letter of resignation,"

"Please be rest assured that I will seek to re-join the University in the event of the Supreme Court ruling in my favour in the interim and/or final hearing of my case. My primary interest shall continue to be in teaching, and I will come back to the University of Jaffna, whenever I can do so with my independence, dignity and autonomy intact,"  Dr Guruparan said in his letter expressing hopes to return to university after an amicable solution to the issue.