In a significant move for higher education in the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has resolved a four-year-long impasse concerning faculty appointments in minority educational institutions. The announcement, made on Saturday, grants these institutions the autonomy to form their own selection committees without the mandatory inclusion of government nominees.
Ending the Four-Year Deadlock
The decision overturns a contentious Government Order (GO) issued in 2021, which had mandated the inclusion of government representatives in the selection panels of minority-aided colleges. This GO had been strongly opposed by the minority college administration, leading to a stalemate that affected hundreds of appointments.
According to the new order, all minority colleges in Tamil Nadu can now constitute selection committees with their own panel of experts. They are no longer required to include nominees from the respective state universities. However, the institutions must still obtain qualification approval for newly appointed faculty members from the universities to ensure they meet the minimum required standards, such as NET, SET, or a PhD.
A Long-Awaited Relief for Institutions
The deadlock had created substantial hurdles for several prominent minority-run colleges. Institutions like Chennai's Loyola College, Madras Christian College, and Stella Maris College were notably unable to secure approval for the appointment of principals and faculty members for years.
The All India Association for Christian Higher Education (AIACHE) had been actively campaigning for a resolution. Representatives recently met CM Stalin, urging him to implement a 2024 order from the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, which had exempted minority institutions from including government nominees in their selection committees.
AIACHE had earlier highlighted that 34 Christian minority institutions in Tamil Nadu had not received approval for the appointment of more than 350 faculty members and principals over the last four years. The financial burden on these colleges, which had to pay salaries without formal approval, was also a critical concern.
Exercising Constitutional Rights and Future Implications
The announcement has been welcomed as a major step in upholding the constitutional rights of minority institutions. Paul Wilson, Vice-President of AIACHE, expressed gratitude, stating the move would be a huge relief and allow them to exercise their rights in recruitment.
State officials clarified that while the selection process is now autonomous, the role of state universities in validating the minimum qualifications of appointed faculty remains crucial. This dual mechanism aims to balance institutional autonomy with the maintenance of academic standards across Tamil Nadu's higher education landscape.
The resolution is expected to swiftly regularize the appointments of hundreds of faculty members, easing administrative and financial pressures on the affected colleges and allowing them to focus on their core educational mission.
