The Hindu : Senate members may call for meeting

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 02, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Senate members may call for meeting

By K. Ramachandran

CHENNAI Dec. 1 . The Government's sudden decision to use its powers under a rarely-used provision of the Madras University Act and statutes against the Vice-Chancellor, S. Ignacimuthu, and order an inquiry into charges of showing favouritism in the use of the UGC funds, has shocked university employees and academics alike.

This is the first time the provision has been used against a serving Vice-Chancellor, a cross-section of professors and Senate members note. However, the nature of the complaint, which gave rise to the directive, is not clear yet.

A city college principal says a majority of the Senate members are likely to call for "urgent meeting of the Senate to discuss the development".

Last week, the Chief Secretary directed the Higher Education Secretary, V.K. Subburaj, to inquire whether the Vice-Chancellor had "diverted funds given by the UGC for a research programme to favoured departments" and "had favoured persons compulsorily retired" from service. The inquiry report should be presented within 10 days, as per the Chief Secretary's directions. Under the university statutes, the Government could use its powers under Chapter III Act S.7 "Visitation" to order the inquiry.

While one section maintains that the entire episode reflects the "infighting and groupism among academics", another represented by the Professors Forum of Madras University (PFMU) said the inquiry could have followed "complaints by persons aggrieved by the Vice-Chancellor's actions".

However, the forum general secretary, N. Deivasundaram, told mediapersons today that the PFMU would not like to react to the "Visitation" ordered by the Chief Secretary. But it would make its stand clear if it was called to testify.

The forum only worked to improve the "tranquillity and peaceful academic atmosphere in the university campus". But it would oppose any attempt to deter the academic pursuits in the university to suit any individual's agenda.

The PFMU members said in the case involving the compulsory retirement of a teacher, Maa Selvaraasan, an impression was given that the forum opposed Dr. Selvaraasan's continuance.

Misuse of provision?

Senior academics who are members of Senate doubt whether the provision under the Chapter III "Visitation" could be used against the Vice-Chancellor. Except a clause which said the Provincial government... .can cause an inquiry to be made in respect of any matter connected with the university", there was no clause to order a probe against a Vice-Chancellor. Also, it is not clear whether the Government "had given notice to the university of the intention to cause such inspection or inquiry", as required under the provision. The university was entitled to be informed before the inquiry was ordered, they note.

On the charges about the "diversion of funds to favoured departments", Senate members say the UGC funds for the ``Herbal Science programme'' came before Dr. Ignacimuthu became Vice-Chancellor.

He redistributed the funds after satisfying a UGC review team.

In the other case of "favouring compulsorily retired" employees, they note that a majority of the Senate had been calling for the reinstatement of two such professors. And the Senate had the powers to review the Syndicate's decisions, if the latter's action was contrary to the provisions, a fact upheld recently by a single Judge while setting aside the Syndicate's decision to compulsorily retire Dr. Selvaraasan.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Security cordon for CM throws IT interviews out of gear

Senate members may call for meeting

13 panchaloha idols found

`Investment in agriculture key to poverty eradication'

HIV incidence controlled to a great extent: Semmalai

`Media should raise questions of accountability'