A group of persons has sought an investigation under the watch of the Madras High Court to rule out corruption in the appointment of faculty in Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. The group wants the appointment of professors to be put on hold until inquiry is completed.
According to the group, of the 54 positions which fell vacant, only 27 were filled though a large number of candidates appeared for the interview. The complaints range from vacancy positions not being separately demarcated to the State government to presenting self-financing departments as regular departments.
The group is being represented by Makkal Sananayaga Kudiyarasu Katchi, which has claimed that the 200-point roster system was not followed in the appointment either. The group has pointed out that nine faculty members who were appointed in November 2016 had all taken a loan either against salary or pledging jewels from Abishekapatti branch of Indian Bank, which they had either paid within a short time or transferred to another account.
A. Marx, activist and former Government College Teachers’ Association office-bearer, said it was difficult to point to the violation unless the affected person spoke out. “We are asking for an inquiry commission to see how the appointments happened,” he said. The group has given bank details of nine of the assistant professors who were appointed by former Vice-Chancellor K. Baskar.
The group has called for putting on hold appointment of the faculty members and an inquiry as to whether the advertisement was placed in the dailies as required and how was the scrutiny of application forms done.
A university official, however, said the institution had followed the norms and only those who were qualified had been appointed. “The appointments have helped the university get ‘A’ grade. The V-C cannot appoint without putting in place a proper committee.”
There was a nominee from the government and the Governor’s office too. All members of the committee would be responsible if the appointments are not in order,” he pointed out.
