The Periyar University Employees' Union (PUEU) staged a massive protest demanding the fulfillment of five critical demands, including long-pending provident fund issues and salary hikes.

Key Takeaways

  • PUEU members protested against Periyar University administration.
  • A major dispute exists regarding unpaid Provident Fund (PF) from 1997 to 2013.
  • Demands include salary hikes for consolidated and daily wage workers.
  • Allegations of corruption and delayed inquiries into faculty suspensions were raised.

On Thursday, August 13, 2026, the Periyar University Employees' Union (PUEU) staged a significant protest in front of the university premises. Led by General Secretary C. Sakthivel, union members raised slogans and demanded immediate intervention from the Higher Education Department regarding their five-point charter of demands.

A central point of contention is the university's failure to credit Provident Fund (PF) amounts to employee accounts between 1997 and 2013. This negligence has resulted in the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) deducting amounts along with heavy fines from university accounts. Tragically, Sakthivel noted that over 10 employees passed away during this period, leaving their families unable to access the funds for 13 years.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that such prolonged administrative lapses create a deep trust deficit between academic institutions and their workforce. The pending court case regarding the PF issue highlights a systemic failure that impacts not just current employees, but the legal and financial stability of the university itself.

"The university administration should conduct talks with the union to come up with an amicable solution." - C. Sakthivel

Furthermore, the union is demanding a salary hike for consolidated pay and daily wage workers, insisting that remuneration should align with educational qualifications. There are also concerns regarding the deployment of workers from constituent colleges to the main university, which the union insists should be reversed.

Corruption Allegations and Faculty Suspension

The protest also touched upon internal disciplinary issues. Professor Periyasamy of the Tamil Department was suspended following allegations of fake certificates, corruption, and misappropriation of funds. While inquiry committees have been formed, the union expressed frustration that investigations have been stalled for months, demanding that the inquiry be completed before any reinstatement is considered.

Did You Know?: Administrative disputes in universities can often lead to long-term legal battles that affect the institution's accreditation and funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the primary demands of the PUEU?
The primary demands include resolving the 1997-2013 PF issue, salary hikes for daily wage workers, and addressing administrative corruption.

2. Why is the PF issue so critical?
Because the failure to credit funds has led to heavy fines and has prevented the families of deceased employees from receiving their rightful benefits for over a decade.