The recent appointment of the vice-chancellor of Thanjavur Tamil University has pointed out that the selection process follows the system prevalent during the previous regime.
Though there are no allegations of any monetary consideration this time, the procedure followed was totally opaque.
The absence of advertisement, mandatory as per UGC norms, has resulted in many good Tamil scholars missing out from the zone of consideration, rue academic experts.
There being several allegations of serious nature in terms of illegal appointments for pecuniary considerations, malpractices in the exam system, Ph.D. degrees for reasons other than merit, financial irregularities in purchases, etc., during the previous regime, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa had in her election manifesto stated that it has become essential to select academicians of high stature and integrity. Nevertheless, the academicians lament that the officials have been callous about implementing the manifesto.
On the general pattern followed by the search committees for preparation of the panel of three names to be submitted to the governor for appointment as vice-chancellor, according to Acts governing these universities, the names would include chancellor’s nominee, government’s nominee and syndicate’s/senate’s nominee. However, in some universities Acts, the pattern is different. The senate/syndicate members may elect their nominees by following the due procedure prescribed in their rules.
Despite the UGC norms making it mandatory that the posts of members of search committee for vice-chancellors and those of VCs should be advertised on the university website and in some newspapers to enable transparency, appointments have been made without any advertisements whatsoever, confirmed sources in academic circles on conditions of anonymity.