Chennai’s prestigious Loyola College, long celebrated as a premier Jesuit institution, is once again under a cloud of controversy after the Catholic Minority Welfare Society (CMWS) lodged a formal complaint alleging a “cash for marks” scandal and accused the college’s management of shielding tainted faculty members, manipulating internal processes, and undermining academic integrity.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus in Rome, the CMWS, a registered Catholic advocacy body, accused Rev. Dr. J. Antony Robinson, S.J., the Rector of Loyola College, of misuse of power, academic cover-ups, and shielding faculty involved in illegal academic practices.
Misuse Of Power And Academic Negligence
The CMWS letter names Dr. J. Merline Shyla, Associate Professor of Physics, and Dr. S. Arul Mozhi, Assistant Professor, as central figures in the alleged scandal. It also accuses Rector Rev. Dr. Robinson of abusing his authority and ignoring internal regulations to protect favoured colleagues.
According to the complaint, despite being assigned 16 hours of teaching work per week, Dr. Robinson has not taken classes for over a year, allowing proxies to sign attendance registers on his behalf. The CMWS notes that such conduct “has never happened in the 100-year history of Loyola College,” calling it “a shameful breach of Jesuit academic integrity.”
The letter further alleges that Dr. Robinson has “usurped the powers of the Secretary and the Principal” by unilaterally making appointments and granting favours to loyalists, undermining the administrative framework of the autonomous institution.
Multiple Roles And Irregular Appointments
The CMWS also highlighted serious irregularities in the appointments of Dr. Merline Shyla, who currently holds multiple administrative roles, including that of Research Dean and Director of Entomology—a position unrelated to her academic background in Physics. The letter states that this violates UGC workload and specialization norms, and alleges that the appointments were made purely due to personal favouritism.
“It is humanly impossible for a person to handle these many responsibilities with integrity,” the letter says, calling it “an academic farce that reduces Loyola’s legacy to a political playground.”
‘Cash for Marks’ Allegation And Suspension Cover-Up
The most damning charge concerns Dr. S. Arul Mozhi, who allegedly tampered with student answer scripts during the November 2023 semester exams by altering evaluated papers and awarding higher marks to select students in exchange for favours.
The malpractice was reportedly identified by an external examiner and escalated to the Controller of Examinations, Rev. Dr. A. Irudaya Raj, S.J., leading to Dr. Mozhi’s suspension on February 15, 2024. However, the CMWS alleges that she was quietly reinstated within weeks, without a proper inquiry, due to her personal proximity to the Rector.
“Without conducting any formal investigation, the accused faculty member was taken back to teaching,” the complaint notes, calling it “a disgraceful example of Jesuit partiality.”
Jesuit Leadership Accused Of Shielding Offenders
The letter accuses Rev. Dr. J. Antony Robinson, S.J., of “despotic conduct” and “unprecedented misuse of power,” asserting that his leadership has “demoralised sincere academic staff” and “tarnished the Jesuit brand that once stood for discipline and moral uprightness.”
“Jesuits have stood for justice worldwide. Ironically enough, this inexperienced and immature Jesuit has usurped authority and committed acts of crime,” the letter declares.
The CMWS has also submitted copies of the complaint to the Directorate of Collegiate Education, urging a government inquiry into what they describe as a “Cash for Marks” scandal and systematic academic fraud at Loyola College.
Earlier Allegations Resurface
This controversy comes barely a year after Savukku Shankar’s explosive report — published by The Commune Mag — which linked Loyola College to another academic scandal involving DMK leaders, including the now Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.
In that report, Savukku Shankar had alleged that academic credentials and internal evaluations were being manipulated for political protégés, hinting at a “cash and connection” economy within Loyola College.
The new allegations by CMWS appear to corroborate Savukku’s warnings, suggesting a deeper, systemic rot where Jesuit administrators, faculty, and politically connected students operate through networks of favouritism and financial quid pro quo.
Loyola’s Response
When The Commune reached out to Loyola College for comment, Principal Rev. Dr. A. Louis Arockiaraj, S.J., responded via email stating:
“The issue concerns disciplinary proceedings involving a staff member. There cannot be a public discussion on the issue. We inform you to refrain from scandalising individuals and institutions.”
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