Concerns have been raised over the recent addition of three non-teaching staff at Madurai Kamaraj University Constituent College in Tirumangalam, with a section of faculty members alleging that the appointments were unnecessary and due process was not followed.
According to sources at the college, the institution had 42 teaching staff and nearly 25 non-teaching staff for a student strength of around 1,200. Meanwhile, recently, a clerk, an attendant and a marker (who acts as an assistant to Physical Director) joined the college as temporary staff, much to the surprise of staff members. “At a time when the university does not have a Vice-Chancellor, what is the urgency for making such new appointments,” a faculty member asked. He pointed out that the strength of non-teaching staff was already more than half of the teaching staff, which he said was an unusual ratio for an educational institution.
Interestingly, the faculty member also questioned the need for appointing a marker to assist the Physical Director when the college did not even have a playground.
It can be noted that a number of such appointments of temporary staff made at the constituent colleges late last year came under the scrutiny of Higher Education Department as many appointments were reportedly unnecessary and made in violation of a freeze imposed by the department on all universities at that time for recruitments of any nature.
Pointing out that a few of these appointments were made to Tirumangalam college as well, another faculty member said that no one knew what the exact job of those new appointees were. “In such a situation, the recent three appointments were unwarranted,” he said.
While V. Chinniah, Registrar of MKU, could not be reached for comment, another top official from the university administration denied knowledge of any irregular appointments to the constituent college. “If there is any specific complaint, we will enquire into it,” he said.
