A Syndicate meeting of Bharathiar University held recently resolved to declare the recruitment to 35 regular academic posts in the University as annulled and not binding.
The recruitments were made in 2010, when C. Swaminathan was Vice-Chancellor. His tenure ended recently, and a new V-C took over in August.
Letter received
The decision of the syndicate meeting comes in the wake of a letter from the Additional Chief Secretary to Government (Higher Education) T.S. Sridhar to Bharathiar University, requesting the Vice-Chancellor to comply with a set of suggestions, including annulling of the selection of candidates for 35 regular posts by declaring them as not binding.
It also suggested launching of a fresh recruitment process in compliance with rules besides requesting reconsideration of extension for posts under the XI plan, which are valid only till March 31, 2013.
Mr. Sridhar had also written to the Special Government Pleader appearing for the State in the litigation filed against the recruitment process, requesting him to apprise the Madras High Court about these decisions in response to its order dated September 6, 2012.
The Additional Chief Secretary wrote to the Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University and to counsel on September 28, 2012 and the Syndicate meeting resolved to accept the suggestions on October 4.
The minutes of the syndicate were made public only recently.
During 2010, the university carried out the selection process for appointment for 35 regular academic posts sanctioned by the UGC.
The process was completed and the selection was over and before the appointments could be effected, the SC/ST Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff Association of Bharathiar University moved the High Court alleging irregularities in selection and challenged the appointment process.
The petitioners contended that the rules of reservation were not adhered to in the selection process.
They also alleged irregularities in granting of five years’ extension to the posts under the XI plan period which were temporary posts with a validity of just one year.
Probe
The then Higher Education Secretary, following these developments, referred the appointments along with various other issues for a detailed inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption following complaints of corruption.
The Syndicate has resolved to start the recruitment process afresh and follow all norms and rules of the UGC, State Government and the Bharathiar University Act, statutes and regulations. It was also decided that the XI Plan appointments (temporary posts) would be retained only up to March 31, 2013 or until further orders from Court on the two writ appeals pending before the Madras High Court, whichever is earlier.
