Clash over government nominee leaves professors in state of worry

By Ashmita Gupta  |  Express News Service  |   Published: 15th June 2017 01:11 AM  |  

CHENNAI: The wait for appointment of a vice-chancellor for Anna University seems to be never-ending. The new search panel, which was supposed to propose nominees, is yet to be constituted. It’s been 20 days since the higher education minister announced that the university will get VC within three months.
The trouble is that the government’s nominees for the three-member committee is yet to be finalised, and it is reportedly caught-up between caste equation of the chief minister and high education minister.

Faculty members are worried that the delay in selection of search committee will further delay VC selection. While other reputed universities have received VCs, Anna University is yet to get one, as the governor rejected nominees and dismissed the previous VC search committee. A new set of VC faculty members told Express that the governor’s nominee (Justice RM Lodha) and a syndicate nominee (K Ananthapadmanabhan, former director of IIT Kanpur) were selected on June 5, but the government’s nominee is yet to be selected.

“There was a rumour that there’s a dispute between the chief minister and higher education minister over names. CM Edappadi Palanisami wants a person from his community (gounder), while KP Anbalagan, the higher education minister, wants a person from his community (Vanniyar),” said S Chandramohan, secretary of Anna University Teacher’s Association (AUTA).

A professor, requesting anonymity, said the university — which is the syndicate nominee — usually announces first, followed by the government’s nominee and then the governor’s nominee. But this time, the last one has been announced first, followed by the syndicate nominee. “We’re worried but hopeful, as the higher education minister had announced that VC will be appointed within three months.”

Arul Aram, president of AUTA, said the government should not delay this process any further. “The search committee is for selection of VC of an important technical university. If they wish, they can complete selection of government’s nominee within a day,” he said.

Chandramohan pointed out that without re-appointment, the current HoDs are holding on to posts and not giving chance to other professors. The Career Advancement Scheme implementation guidelines were issued a month ago, but so far they have not been implemented.