CHENNAI: In May, Higher Education Minister KP Anbalagan promised to get within four months a Vice-Chancellor appointed for the Anna University, the state’s top technical education university which oversees almost all engineering colleges. Now it’s more than four months, but things have not moved much. The university is functioning without a Vice-Chancellor for one-and-half years now and insiders say this has taken much toll on the university.
Around 20 senior faculty members, including a few heads of the departments, have attained their superannuation age. The registrar’s term comes to end next month. Over 200 faculty member continue as temporary staff. No new appointments, no internal promotions, and no new funds for researchers.... the list of problems plaguing the university due to the prolonged absence of a VC only continues to grow.
The fate of the VC search committee is also not clear. “I stand by my resignation,” said former Supreme Court Chief Justice R M Lodha, who was appointed as the head of the committee by the outgoing Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao. He told Express on Tuesday that he would reconsider his decision after going through the recent Madras HC order which upheld appointment of another committee member Anantha Padmanabhan.
With the new Governor set to take charge, a section of university staff feel now things are back to square one. “The appointment of new heads of departments and various centres have been put on hold. There are around 20 senior teaching staff and four administration officials have reached superannuation age and are continuing (since the university laws allow them to continue till end of the academic year),” said a faculty member, seeking anonymity. With no fresh recruitment and also internal promotions, the morale of the staff has taken a beating.
“Five Anna Universities of Technology each in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchy and Tirunelveli were merged with the university in 2011. Around 200 faculties in their places are still not on permanent rolls for six years and have not been given any increment,” said another senior faculty member.
The convener committee that takes care of the interim administration is not capable of taking any major policy decisions. The university’s syndicate, which makes all the important decisions, is also running with just nine members, out of the total 14. “The members of the syndicate can be appointed only by a Vice-Chancellor,” he said.
Another major issue is the ending of the registrar S Ganesan’s term next month, but no notification has been made inviting applications for the post. According to the Anna University Act, which governs the university, two months prior to the ending of the registrar’s term, the notification must had been made.
However, government officials are hopeful of appointing a new VC soon. “The Vice Chancellor’s search committee had met thrice. They have shortlisted some names. We hope Justice R M Lodha will withdraw his resignation,” said a senior official.