The culprit, Muthukumar of Tirupalai in Madurai District, was arrested and produced before a court which remanded him to 15 days judicial custody today, police said.
The Principal has been admitted to hospital with stab injury, they said.
Police said S Jegannathan, Principal of Mannarduraisingam Government Arts College, was shocked when the man approached him yesterday and sought admission for his 11-year old daughter.
Even after the Principal explained to him that he should seek admission only in school and not college, the drunk man insisted on admitting her, they said.
After a heated exchange, he stabbed the Principal with a knife, injuring him on the leg, they said.