TIRUNELVELI: A 42 year old visually-impaired research scholar created a minor tension at the 23rd convocation function of Manomaniam Sundaranar University(MSU) by returning the degree certificate back to Governor, Rosaiah, on Saturday.

As soon as the distribution of certificates begun R.Periyadurai, from Cheranmahadevi, who had completed his research on Folklore arrived at the stage with his certificate and returned the certificate back to the Governor. Officials at the stage were shocked for a moment but the security men of the Governor were quick to react and took him back.

The tension subsided for a time being but after the convocation function he met the media and alleged that though the Supreme Court had ordered to provide 3 percentage reservation for differently-abled candidates the order has not been implemented by the University so far.

Though he had submitted petitions several times to the university officials no action was taken and hence he returned his degree to register his demands. There are more than 400 such differently-abled candidates in the college and he would gather them to stage a mass protest sooner threatened Periyadurai.

Earlier in the function H.Devaraj, Vice Chairman, University Grants Commission(UGC), delivered the convocation day address.

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Visually-impaired-Ph.D-Scholar-Returns-Back-Degree/2016/02/13/article3275317.ece