The Tamil Nadu Federation of University Non-Teaching Staff Associations has appealed to the President to give his assent to the Annamalai University Bill 2013 that has been pending with him for over two months.
Federation president S.Mathiyalagan told The Hindu that the plea was made during the fourth national conference of the Confederation of All India University Non-Teaching Staff Associations held recently at Bangalore University.
Bill passed by Assembly
He said the Bill passed by the State Assembly sought to alter the character of the 84-year-old university by allowing the State government to exercise control over the administration of the institution by repealing the Annamalai University Act 1929.
The Bill makes provision for ending the relationship hitherto enjoyed by the family of founder Pro-Chancellor Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar with the university.
As per the Bill, the Governor would continue to be the Chancellor, but the Higher Education Minister would assume the role of Pro-Chancellor.
Uniform pay scale
The federation called upon the confederation to take appropriate measures for speedy clearance of the Bill. Mr Mathiyalagan said that the federation also insisted on uniform salary, as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms, for the university employees working all over the country.
It pointed out that so far the UGC had confined its role to that of giving grants to institutions for carrying out research projects only. Hereafter, true to its nomenclature, it should take assume larger responsibility by giving grants to institutions to meet salary obligations of teaching and non-teaching staff of universities.
In this regard, the UGC should come out with necessary guidelines without delay.
Mr Mathiyalagan said the federation must also put forth the view that representatives of the State Federation of university employees should also included in Syndicates and Senates.
State Federations also sought proper representation in the confederation, Mr. Mathiyalagan added.
