Friday, June 30, 2017

Inquiry instituted against former VC of Bharathiar University

R. Sujatha

  Several assistant professors appointed in violation of norms

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has instituted an inquiry into allegations against two former officials of Bharathiar University.

The University’s former Vice-Chancellor C. Swaminathan and former Registrar P. Thirumavalavan had allegedly appointed several assistant professors in various departments in violation of norms and did not follow the 200-point roster system.

The allegations pertain to the appointment of 24 assistant professors during the XI plan period.
The University had been sanctioned Rs. 2 crore toward staff salary during the XI plan period of 2007-08 to 2012-2013. During his tenure as the VC, Mr. Swaminathan had appointed 24 assistant professors for 35 vacancies in the university.

The appointments were temporary and effective till the plan period ending March 31, 2013.
Since the roster system was not followed, the University’s SC/ST Teachers and Staff Welfare Association petitioned the court, which granted an interim stay.

But Mr. Swaminathan’s successor, James Pitchai, regularised the appointments, leading to the current action.

According to the minutes of the Syndicate meeting held on April 13, 2015, the explanation was that the University Grants Commission which granted Rs. 2 crore had sought to know if the services of the appointees had been regularised. The Syndicate decided to set up a sub-committee to identify SC/ST and MBC backlog vacancies for faculty positions and advertise accordingly.

Even as the process was on a letter was received from the Deputy Secretary of Higher Education department “to take necessary action regarding to regularise the post of UGC XI Plan assistant professors” and the registrar was requested to send a report to the Government.
According to sources in the University, its Senate, which will be meeting on Friday, is expected to debate the issue.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that the Higher Education department has separately initiated a departmental inquiry against Mr. Swaminathan for irregularities committed in Periyar University, where he was VC until June 15.

No comments:

Post a Comment

NMC task force launches online survey to assess mental health of medical students, faculty

NMC task force launches online survey to assess mental health of medical students, faculty Disability researcher Dr Satendra Singh questione...