Panel submit list of names for Vice-Chancellors of Anna University, Madras university

Expect an announcement over appointment of Vice-Chancellors for Anna University and University of Madras soon because the respective search committees submitted their final lists of shortlisted candidates to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao recently.

A highly placed source in the Department of Higher Education told Express, “Both the search panels have sought an appointment with the Governor, who is the also Chancellor of these state-funded universities, this week and a formal announcement can be expected anytime soon.”

Both the varsities have been functioning without a head since 2016.

Following R Thandavan’s exit in January 2016, the University of Madras administration has struggled to take key decisions in terms of fund utilisation, academic progress and sanctioning of grants to affiliated colleges. Reportedly, hundreds of Ph.D candidates were made to wait for their degrees despite completing their thesis as early as December 2015. Indeed, the 160-year-old University of Madras had to call off a special convocation for the first time in recent decades in the absence of a VC.

Without a degree certificate in hand, graduates from the 2015-16 batch had to postpone their plans to study abroad. Though the then Higher Education Secretary, A Karthick, stepped in to resolve the issue, controversies arose over its validity.

Absence of a full-time Higher Education Secretary for a short period of six months added more salt to the injuries of the students and staff whose promotions were due.

“Now the ball is in the Governor’s court and he has to take the final call,” government sources added.

However, there was no update on the search for a VC for the Madurai Kamaraj University, which was hit by a court case.