The Vice-Chancellor of Indian Maritime University, K. Ashok Vardhan Shetty, has resigned with over a year and seven months left in his tenure.
Mr. Shetty, a former Principal Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, chose to quit citing personal reasons and was relieved on May 12. His letter of resignation dated April 12 was accepted by the President of India — Visitor to the IMU — on May 11.
Mr. Shetty had taken voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service too.
Mr. Shetty had taken charge as Vice-Chancellor on January 2, 2014.
He has been credited by a section of the faculty with turning the tide at IMU, which had seen three Vice-Chancellors, four Registrars and five Controllers of Examinations in its first five years.
As Vice-Chancellor, he organised the first convocation of the university, ensured entrance examinations and online admissions counselling took place and revamped the administrative structure of the university. The IMU has also been attempting to address shortage of faculty members.
Mr. Shetty’s tenure was also marked by a legal challenge from former Vice-Chancellor P. Vijayan, who approached the Madras High Court against his suspension by the executive council.
K.M. Sivakholundu, the senior-most professor at IMU, has been given interim charge.
