Stir at convocation: Research scholar accuses Phd guides of 'seeking bribes' from students; submits letter to Tamil Nadu governor

Chennai: A research scholar at the state-run Bharathiar University, Coimbatore created a stir on Monday when he handed over a letter to Governor R N Ravi at the convocation ceremony alleging that “some PhD guides” demand bribe from students and force them to do “personal work” before clearing their viva voce.

A Prakash, a PhD scholar who received his doctorate from Ravi at the 39th convocation of the university, also claimed that guides don’t treat research scholars with “due respect” and complained about lack of basic facilities in hostels. Prakash handed over the letter by a couple of other students to the Governor despite intense opposition from others on the dais.

The incident would give further ammunition to the Governor to take a dig at the state government, which he has been accusing of not being bothered about providing quality education to students.

Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhian was also present on the dais along with vice-chancellor and other officials but didn’t comment on the complaint by the students.

“Research scholars are quite scared of speaking out against the varsity. Some PhD guides, I don’t want to generalize, mistreat scholars like me. They demand money, gold, and ask us to spend on their food before our viva voce. Sometimes, a few guides do ask for ATM cards of the scholars,” Prakash alleged.

The Ph. D scholar also claimed that some guides also force students to come to their homes and do their personal work. “It is not our job to check their bank accounts and so on. But it keeps happening here. I felt it would be good if I petition the governor directly so that he gets an idea of the situation that scholars face in our university,” he added.

In the petition, the scholars said “some guides force” students to spend anywhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh before they clear their papers.

Ravi is the chancellor of all state-run universities in Tamil Nadu in his capacity as the Governor. The DMK government had in 2022 passed a bill in the Assembly transferring the powers to appoint VCs from the governor to the Chief Minister which is still pending with the Raj Bhavan.