Bharatidasan University Appointment Process Stalls Over Committee Dispute
The critical process of appointing a regular registrar, controller of examinations, and director of the Centre for Distance Education at Bharatidasan University has encountered a significant early obstacle. This delay stems from a dispute within the five-member scrutiny committee, specifically involving the governor's nominee in the university syndicate.
Governor's Nominee Withdraws from Scrutiny Committee
Sources within the university have confirmed that S Amudha, who serves as a governor's nominee in the syndicate and was a member of the scrutiny committee, has formally requested to be relieved from her duties on the committee. She communicated this decision to the Vice-Chancellor committee members, including convener E Sundaravalli. The VC committee has been managing university affairs since the previous vice-chancellor retired in February 2024.
The root of the issue emerged during the scrutiny committee's meeting on February 9. According to university insiders, there were notable differences between Amudha and another committee member regarding the marking of candidates deemed 'non-eligible'. This disagreement led to the other member refusing to sign the final report, which is a necessary step before the report can be presented to the next syndicate meeting for further action, such as forming an interview committee for the selection process.
Composition of the Scrutiny Committee and Current Status
The scrutiny committee is comprised of several prominent academic figures:
- A Senthil Rajan, Registrar of Alagappa University
- Two former registrars of Bharatidasan University: C Thiruchelvam (a syndicate member) and G Gopinath
- S Amudha, the governor's nominee in the syndicate
- K Suriyan, Chair of the School of Social Sciences
Following the dispute, the matter has been forwarded to the registrar for necessary action. A member of the VC committee emphasized that ideally, an inquiry should be conducted before any further steps are taken. While it remains unclear whether a fresh committee will be constituted, a senior official indicated that a solution is expected to be reached in the coming days.
Background and Significance of the Appointments
The urgency of filling these key positions has been heightened by the prolonged absence of a full-time vice-chancellor at the university since February of last year. The syndicate initially approved the move to appoint these officials on September 22. Subsequently, advertisements for the posts were issued on December 12, with the application window closing on January 12.
A total of 18 applications were received for the post of registrar, 16 for controller of examinations, and 13 for director of the Centre for Distance Education. These positions have been vacant for several years, impacting the university's administrative and academic functions.
A retired university professor commented on the situation, noting, "This is where a VC is needed because the issue would have been resolved then and there." This statement underscores the challenges faced by the VC committee in managing such disputes without the authority of a permanent vice-chancellor.
The ongoing impasse highlights the complexities involved in university governance and appointment processes, particularly in the absence of key leadership roles. Stakeholders are now awaiting a resolution to ensure the timely appointment of essential officials to steer Bharatidasan University forward.
