Sunday, April 8, 2018

Guv denies interference in VC selection

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

 08.04.2018

Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit’s office on Saturday refuted charges of favouritism in the selection of M K Surappa as Anna University vicechancellor.

Seeking to put the entire procedure followed in the selection in the public domain, Raj Bhavan issued a release. It said there was “no extraneous interference” in the selection of Karnataka-born Surappa as head of the varsity. The release said the process was fair and transparent. “The welfare of the Anna University and engineering colleges affiliated to the university, faculty and the students was kept in mind when making the selection… Since the choice of the VC was done entirely in accordance with the statute, it is requested that politics be kept out and unnecessary mud-slinging avoided,” it said.


The statement comes against the backdrop of political parties charging that varsities in the state were being saffronised by the governor. Actorturned-politician Kamal Haasan had tweeted that when TN sought Cauvery water from Karnataka, what it got was a VC from that state. The controversy over a Kannadiga heading the Anna University has cropped up amid raging protests across the state over the Cauvery water dispute.

Fisheries minister D Jayakumar, on Friday, denied the role of the state in the appointment. The selection was purely based on the need to have an academician, who understands the need of the technical varsity, to head it, the release said. “The selection was done from the list submitted by the search committee, which consisted of illustrious personalities.”

A search committee of three members — nominees of the university syndicate, state government and that of the governor — was constituted last November. The panel shortlisted H Devaraj, S Ponnusamy and M K Surappa and held interviews on April 5. All three shortlisted candidates were from backward classes, the release said.

Surappa is a metallurgical engineer and holds a doctorate, and enjoys administrative experience in IIT, Ropar, as its director for six years. Ponnusamy is a doctorate in mathematics and head of the Chennai unit of Indian Statistical Institute, while Devaraj, a doctorate in bio-chemistry, has been the vicechairman of the University Grants Commission. “The academic, teaching, research and administrative attainments of the three candidates were examined in detail by the chancellor from March 31 to April 5. Soon after the completion of the interview, the final result was declared and release was issued on the same day to ensure transparency and non-interference in the process of selection,” the statement said.



ALLEGATIONS OF ‘SAFFRONISATION’

No comments:

Post a Comment

Diwali surprise: 4% hike in DA for govt employees

Diwali surprise: 4% hike in DA for govt employees  TIMES NEWS NETWORK 31.10.2024  Chandigarh : Calling it a Diwali bonanza for the families ...