TN's 15 universities face administrative issues as vice-chancellor vacancies not filled
Chennai, July 29
Tamil Nadu's higher education sector is facing mounting administrative and academic challenges as 15 state universities continue to function without Vice-Chancellors, raising concerns over governance, research, and decision-making across the institutions.
The vacancies have affected several prominent universities, including the University of Madras, Annamalai University, Madurai Kamaraj University, Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil University, Bharathidasan University, Periyar University, Thiruvalluvar University, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Dr Ambedkar Law University, Tamil Nadu Open University, and the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University.
The situation is expected to worsen next month, when the tenures of the Vice-Chancellors of Alagappa University in Karaikudi and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli come to an end, taking the total number of universities without permanent Vice-Chancellors to 17.
Academic circles say the problem extends beyond the absence of Vice-Chancellors. Many universities, including Madurai Kamaraj University, have also been functioning without Registrars, Controllers of Examinations, Principals, Directors and other senior administrators for more than a year.
The prolonged vacancies have disrupted routine administration and slowed important academic and research activities.
In the absence of permanent heads, the state government has entrusted the responsibility of overseeing university administration to IAS officers serving as convenors. However, many of them manage the institutions remotely from Chennai while handling multiple government responsibilities, leading to concerns over effective supervision and timely decision-making.
Senior professors have also been assigned additional administrative responsibilities, creating discontent within academic circles. Faculty members say the arrangement has led to seniority-related disputes and affected the overall academic environment.
Researchers have further alleged that several research initiatives and long-term academic projects have slowed significantly because of the lack of permanent leadership.
Educationists maintain that appointing Vice-Chancellors is the only lasting solution to the crisis.
During the previous DMK government, appointments remained stalled amid a prolonged dispute between the state government and the Governor over the Chancellor's powers in state universities.
Although Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar are widely perceived to enjoy a more cordial working relationship, appointments are yet to be finalised.
Professors say there is little clarity on the Tamil Nadu government's stand regarding the appointment process, resulting in uncertainty across universities. They are now closely watching the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear the case relating to the powers of the Chancellor in university appointments on July 29, a hearing that could have significant implications for higher education governance in the state.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who studied at Madras University, this breaks my heart 😢. Without VCs, research projects stall, exams get delayed, and the whole academic calendar goes haywire. The state government should take immediate action instead of passing the buck. Education is not a playground for political games!
The Supreme Court hearing on July 29 is crucial. Both the state and the Governor must respect the constitutional framework. But let's be honest—the DMK and Governor have been at loggerheads for years, and students are the real losers. Hope the court gives a clear directive to break this deadlock. 🤞
It's shocking that even universities like Annamalai and Bharathiar have been without VCs for so long. I have friends pursuing PhDs there and they say research is at a standstill because there's no one to approve grants or projects. The government should appoint temporary VCs at least, instead of making professors do administrative work they never signed up for.
The previous DMK government also stalled appointments due to the feud with the Governor. Now with a new CM and Governor, the situation has barely improved. This shows a systemic failure. Our universities need autonomous VCs, not bureaucrats managing them like district offices. CM Vijay and Governor Arlekar should sit down and resolve this without further delay.
Honestly, it's a disrespect to the students and faculty. 15 universities without VCs, and soon 17? That's almost half of the state universities! The IAS officers handling this remotely from Chennai won't understand grassroots issues. The government must prioritize education over politics—this is Tamil
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.