Law Academy stir called off

Thiruvananthapuram: The 28-day old agitation by students of Kerala Law Academy law college here, a private institution, ended Wednesday after the government and college management agreed to the main demand of removing the Principal Lekshmi Nair.

The agreement to call off the strike was reached at a meeting called by Education Minister C Raveendranath with representatives of Academy Management and agitating students.

After the meeting, Raveendranath announced that classes would start from February 13.

Government has assured that a new principal would be appointed as per the guidelines of the University.

Jubilant students said that they were calling off the strike as their main demand has been accepted.

"The government also assured that it would intervene if management violates the agreement reached today", students union leaders said.

Academy Director N Narayanan Nair, who is also the father of Lekshmi Nair and a close relative of a former CPI(M) MLA, said issues have been sorted out and new principal would be appointed.

Congress leader K Muraleedharan, MLA, and BJP state secretary V V Rajesh who were on fast stir in front of the Academy at nearby Peroorkada to express solidarity with striking students also ended their stir.

KPCC President V M Sudheeran said it was victory for students and a setback to the CPI-M led LDF government.

However, BJP state Kummanom Rajasekharan said that the party would take up the issue and continue stir on alleged mis-utilisation of land given to the academy.

The college is in the eye of a storm over alleged irregularities in providing internal marks and harassment of students by Lekshmi Nair.

The students belonging to ABVP, KSU and AISF had launched the strike demanding removal of Nair. Congress and BJP joined the agitation later.