The Bharathidasan University Syndicate gave its approval for the appointment of 36 faculty members at a recent meeting, despite a request from the Higher Education department for deferment of the entire agenda until the next meeting, it has now emerged.
According to the Minutes of the meeting, a copy of which is available with The Hindu , Deputy Secretary in the Higher Education department, A. Suguna, had refused to accept the agenda and, on instructions from the Principal Secretary, suggested that all items on the agenda be deferred until the next meeting.
Vice Chancellor K. Meena, chairing the meeting, which took place on December 22 last, sought to go by the Higher Education department’s suggestion and announced that the agenda was being deferred. However, eight members of the Syndicate “objected” to the views of the Vice Chancellor as well as the Deputy Secretary and insisted that the agenda be taken up at the meeting itself.
The Minutes said: “Taking into account the insistence of the majority of the members, the agenda was taken up for consideration as per sub-section (3) of Section 26 of Bharathidasan University Act 1981.” The appointments had come into focus, with the Bharathidasan University Teachers Association (BUTA) opposing the recruitment alleging violation of roster system. The Syndicate took up for consideration the Minutes of the selection committee meetings conducted from December 19 to 22 for selection of professors, associate professors, and assistant professors for the various departments of the university, acceptance and approval of the Minutes of the selection committee meetings; and appointment of selected candidates in the respective university departments.
