152 illegally appointed faculty in Pachaiyappa’s Trust colleges Board Issues Notices To The Appointees

152 illegally appointed faculty in Pachaiyappa’s Trust colleges
Board Issues Notices To The Appointees

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.08.2020

At least 152 out of 234 faculty members, appointed to six colleges under the Pachaiyappa’s Trust Board were unqualified for the post, and hence the board has now issued notices to the illegal appointees asking why their recruitment should not be cancelled. The appointments were made between 2014 and 2016.

“Only 60 of the total 234 candidates were qualified candidates,” board chairman Justice P Shanmugam said in the notice. Notices have been slapped only on 152, as the remaining 22 have moved courts against their removal. “The illegal selection betrayed the Tamil Nadu government, UGC, universities, education departments and the public confidence and the reputation to the name of Pachaiyappa’s. The continuance of illegal appointees will misguide and set a bad precedent, as it is a blot on the fair and equal selection and morale of the students and society for generations,” Justice Shanmugam said in the notice. They were appointed as assistant professors, librarians and physical education directors in Pachaiyappa’s College; C Kandaswamy Naidu College for Men; Chellammal College for Women (all in Chennai); Pachaiyappa’s College for Men; Pachaiyappa’s College for Women (both in Kancheepuram) and C Kandaswamy Naidu College for Women in Cuddalore.

Candidates with correspondence or distance mode degrees, UG and PG degrees with cross majors and those without mandatory qualifications like NET, SLET or PhD were appointed as faculty members.

Violations came to light after complaints against selected names

Assistant professors with nil experience have been awarded the maximum marks of 14. In some cases, teaching experiences were taken into account without reference to the date of acquiring minimum educational qualification.

“The selection and the appointment made in the light of lack of educational qualifications, experience and other basic requirements are patently illegal and liable to be canceled on the ground that the candidates have failed to satisfy as UGC prescribed qualifications,” the notice said.

More than 4,300 candidates responded to job notifications and about 2,000 attended the interview during the period. Following complaints in final selection, the trust board checked the applications of selected candidates and was shocked to find gross violations of rules by the trustees in the appointment of faculty members.

“Illegalities in the selection have denied hundreds of deserving candidates their right of equality and proper selection and appointment. The education of thousands of students coming from economically weaker sections for whose benefit the public trust was conceived by Pachaiyappa have been compromised,” the notice further said.

The notice said it is proposed to cancel the appointments of 152 candidates and directed the concerned to show-cause as to why their selection and appointments should not be canceled within seven days from the receipt of the notice.

When contacted, Justice P Shanmugam confirmed issuing show-cause notice to 152 ineligible faculty members.

The continuance of illegal appointees will misguide and set a bad precedent, as it is a blot on the fair and equal selection and morale of the students and society for generations

Justice Shanmugam,

Pachaiyappa’s Trust Board chairman