Suspended after retirement, says ex-Anna University VC

CHENNAI: Was the order placing former Anna University vice-chancellor P Mannar Jawahar's under suspension served on him moments after his retirement, and hence illegal?
Claiming that the order was indeed served on him in the afternoon of October 31, when he had already retired, Mannar Jawahar has now moved the Madras high court to quash his suspension.
Noting that his suspension was vitiated by malice, he said it was not sustainable."Any order not permitting a person to retire is required to be communicated to the person while he is in service and not after his retirement has taken effect," he told the court.
Justice N Kirubakaran, before whom the writ petition came up for admission on Thursday, issued notice returnable in two weeks. Advocate V S Sundar, counsel for Anna University, took notice on behalf of the university.
The suspension order dated October 28 said authorities contemplated inquiry into certain grave charges against him. Silent about the nature of the 'grave charges', the order said he would not be permitted to retire from service on reaching the age of superannuation, but will be retained in service until inquiry into the charges are concluded.
Assailing the suspension order, Mannar Jawahar said he chose to retire on October 31 instead of availing himself of the facility to continue in service till the end of the academic year in May 2014. He wanted the court to direct the authorities to retire him with effect from October 31 afternoon, and grant all retirement and terminal benefits payable to him.
The former vice-chancellor said he had rendered unblemished service since he joined the university as a lecturer in in 1978, and added that in recognition of his impressive performance as vice-chancellor for three years, he was given one year extension in 2011. He demitted vice-chancellor post on June 26, 2012, he said.
Mannar Jawahar said he was clueless as to the reason for his suspension, and added that he was issued neither memo nor notice calling for his explanation with regard to any allegation. He said he was also not called for any preliminary inquiry.