At a time when the Vice-Chancellor search committees of the University of Madras, Anna University and Madurai Kamaraj University are learnt to have submitted their respective shortlists to the Governor-Chancellor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, a section of academics has called for disbanding the search panels and constitute them afresh citing discrepancies. Besides, the search committees were constituted many months ago.
It is learnt that among those being considered for the post of Vice-Chancellor to these universities include Maria John, a professor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University; R. Perumalsamy, former member of State Information Council and TN Public Service Commission; A. Chelladurai, former Registrar in MS University; H. Devaraj, former Vice-Chairman of UGC; D. Velmurugan, former head of Department of Crystallography and Biophysics at University of Madras; former Vice- Chancellor R.Thandavan; former V-C M. Rajaram and two professors from Central institutions.
Fresh panel
“The Governor should constitute a fresh search panel for Madurai Kamaraj University. The search committee was originally constituted over two years ago. One of the members Mu. Ramasamy had resigned last year levelling charges of bias against the convenor of the search committee. At that time itself the panel should have been disbanded but the government chose to retain the committee by inducting a new member in place of Mr. Ramasamy,” pointed out a former professor of the university. “How could a panel whose convenor faced charges of bias be allowed to recommend a shortlist,” he asked.
Likewise, the search panel for University of Madras too was constituted over a year ago. One of its members is R. Surendira Prasad, a full-time Ph.D scholar at the university. When he was nominated by the senate, academics had wondered how could a research scholar of the university be a member of the search panel that would recommend names for the university’s Vice-Chancellor post.
In the case of Anna University, the search committee comprises the chairman of a self-financing engineering college. “Also, the convener of the panel is not an engineer by qualification. How could this panel recommend names for the Vice-Chancellor of the largest technical university,” asked an Anna University professor.
Ma. Selvarajan, a former president of Madras University Teachers’ Association, says it should take only one month to identify a qualified academician to head the university.
