Published Aug 19, 2026 | 12:28 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 19, 2026 | 12:57 PM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
Synopsis: The Tamil Nadu Department of Collegiate Education has withdrawn, with immediate effect, its earlier order asking government arts and science colleges to “take coordinated action” to prevent students and youth from joining protests organised by Left parties and the Tamil Nadu unit of the Cockroach Janata Party. The decision followed widespread outrage over the original order, which also sought details of the action taken from principals be submitted to the Commissioner of Collegiate Education.
The Tamil Nadu Department of Collegiate Education has withdrawn, with immediate effect, its controversial order asking government arts and science colleges to take “appropriate coordinated joint action” to prevent students and young people from participating in protests and agitations organised by Left parties and the Tamil Nadu unit of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
A copy of the original order.
In a communication marked “most urgent” and signed by Joint Director Cynthiaselvi P, dated 17 August, the Collegiate Education Department cited a government letter dated 14 August, which “called for inter-departmental coordination and joint action among the School Education Department, Higher Education Department, Police Department and district administration to prevent students and youth from participating in protests organised by Left parties and the Tamil Nadu Cockroach Janata Party.”
The order directed principals to submit details of the action taken to the Commissioner of Collegiate Education immediately.
In a fresh communication dated 19 August, issued amidst widespread condemnation, the Commissioner of Collegiate Education formally withdrew the earlier order.
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The controversial direction follows statewide participation by students and youth in protests called by the CJP in July against irregularities in the conduct of competitive exams, particularly NEET.
Demonstrators and several civil society organisations held a sit-in protest outside the Communist Party of India (CPI) office in Chennai.
Protest actions also included attempts to lay siege to the Lok Bhavan, demonstrations outside college campuses, and rallies in several parts of the state.
While youth in much of India rallied around the demand for a ‘fairer’ NEET, Tamil Nadu student organisations and civil society groups in the State have demanded the complete scrapping of the exam.
Amid the continuing protests, director Pa Ranjith’s Neelam Cultural Centre organised a public demonstration near Raja Rathinam Stadium in Chennai on 23 July.
The protest was attended by several prominent personalities from the film industry, including directors Vetri Maaran and Ameer, actors Revathi, Andrea Jeremiah and Mansoor Ali Khan, music composer James Vasanthan, rapper Arivu and educationist Prince Gajendra Babu.
Beyond Chennai, student protests were also reported across Tamil Nadu, such as at Madurai Law College, government colleges in Tiruvannamalai, colleges in Tiruvarur and several other districts. The protests were largely been organised by SFI and allied student organisations.
Students of Loyola College in Chennai had planned to join the statewide anti-NEET protests on 24 July, but were prevented from holding a demonstration inside the campus.
Police personnel were deployed at the college entrance from the morning and checked students’ identity cards before allowing them inside.
Protesting the denial of permission to hold the demonstration, hundreds of students launched a sit-in inside the college premises.
Meanwhile, the SFI alleged that the Tamil Nadu police under the TVK government entered college campuses, questioned students and detained those involved in the protests.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
