“I would be offending my conscience if I still continue as counsel”

President of Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Bar Association (MMBA) Isaac Mohanlal on Tuesday withdrew himself from representing Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) in court cases as a mark of protest against the reception accorded to Kalyani Mathivanan when she returned to the Vice-Chancellor’s office on Monday.

In a letter addressed to her, he said: “I was rather upset to see the morning newspapers carrying disgusting scenes on the university campus yesterday at the event of the so-called re-entry of the Vice-Chancellor.

“The University with Potential for Excellence has been deplorably reduced into a political podium where the Vice-Chancellor entered with a convoy of cars following her from the airport to see the hoards of hoardings erected on either side and posters pasted all over the walls and deafening crackers breaking the silence and serenity of the campus, and agonisingly, a band of school children arrayed along the road under the scorching sun, during their class hours, with their tender hands showering flower petals knowing not what they were doing. “Amidst this show, it is reported, the Vice-Chancellor walked her way up to the office, after cutting the coloured cake, of course, armed with the interim order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court staying for a limited period the order of the Hon’ble High Court removing her from office.

“At this juncture, I am afraid that I would be offending my conscience if I still continue as the counsel for the university. You would pardon me for I wish to withdraw myself from all cases on the side of the university. I request you to make alternative arrangements at the earliest.”