On
April 25, 2022 the TN Assembly passed a Bill empowering the state Government to
appoint the Vice Chancellors of thirteen state universities. The main objective
is to replace the existing system of the Governor of the state appointing them in
the capacity as the Chancellor.
During
the discussions, the Chief Minister had noted on the floor of the House that
the state needs to be empowered to select the VCs and not doing so would create
a big impact on higher education. The Minister of higher education was candid
when he admitted that while the Governors used to consult the state Governments
before appointing the VCs during the earlier periods, there has been a change
in the approach over the past few years.
In
the present system, whenever there is a vacancy in a university, the search
committee appointed for this purpose collects the details from the desiring
applicants. After analyzing them, it selects three names and forwards the list
to the Governor. The Governor in turn
will select one person out of it and appoints him/her as the VC.
The
selection of members of the search committees is not the sole prerogative of
the Governor. In many universities the Governor does not have any role in it,
while the state has the right to have its nominees. It is true that in a few
universities the state Government does not have the right to have its direct
nominees.
The
members of the search committees are selected by the academics, Government officials,
educationists and other representatives who form part of the syndicate, senate
and other similar bodies of the concerned university. But the state Governments in TN over the years
have always used to exert their influence through the higher education
secretary and other means in all the universities.
The
issue of the appointment of VCs became a topic for discussion in public only
during the recent periods, after many vigilance cases and court proceedings. In
one instance, a former VC of Bharathiar university was caught red- handed in
his official residence while getting money. In another instance, a former VC of
Anna University was sent to jail in corruption case.
Many
VCs of the state universities such as TN Agricultural University, Periyar
University, Law University and Anna University are facing cases charges relating
to corruption, disproportionate assets and irregularities. Such VCs were
serving in different universities across the state. So the issue is not
confined to two or three institutions. Besides, the successive VCs of the
premier technical university situated right in the capital city of the state are
facing serious cases.
This
was mainly because of the indiscriminate appointment of VCs by the ruling
parties based on considerations other than merit. The situation was very bad
particularly during 2006 - 2016. As a result, the relatives of ministers such
as son-in-law, daughter-in-law and those with political and monetary
connections could only become the VCs.
As
a result, there was complete politicization of the VC appointments. The
situation went to such an extent that around ten VCs went and met Mrs Sasikala,
the former Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s aide, during Dec 2016 after the demise
of her mentor a few days earlier. They also pleaded with Sasikala to take over
the mantle of the party leadership. One of the member of the team of VCs was
the convener of the search committee for selecting the VC for Anna University
constituted earlier.
A
few days later on Dec 24, a group of 22 concerned citizens consisting of former
VCs, senior academics, bureaucrats and others wrote to the Governor condemning
the meeting. The dignitaries included
the highly respected former VC of Anna University Dr.M.Ananthakrishnan. In
their letter, they noted that the “VCs behaved like ruling party cadres.”
They also pointed out the root cause for the
problem when they said that the “UGC norms for VC selection are completely
ignored in public universities in TN and there is a strong perception that
caste, political connections and of course, huge sums of money are the decisive
criteria”
Therefore,
they appealed to the Governor to see that, among other things, the “UGC norms
be strictly incorporated in the statues of all the universities for appointment
of search committees as well as that of VCs” and “set in motion complete
transparency and objectivity in the constitution of the search committee and
selection of VCs”
The
present Chief Minister who was in the opposition at that time insisted that
action should be taken against the VCs who met Sasikala to prevent
“politicization of the office of the VCs and belittling the dignity of the autonomous
status of the universities of the state.”
Earlier
during 1994 the Jayalalitha Government passed a legislation in the TN assembly
for taking over the power to appoint the VCs, similar to the one passed now.
But in 1996, the DMK Government led by Karunanidhi, withdrew it saying that it
was against the interests of the independence of the universities.
Interestingly
the DMK Government led by Stalin now, has come out with this legislation. The main
problem for them now is that the Governors appointed by the Modi Government are
honest and firm. They follow the rules in letter and spirit and don’t
compromise with the state Governments. Those in the academic community know
that it is only during the last few years, VCs are appointed on the basis of
merit. Hence there is a new confidence in the academic circles.
It
is unfortunate that Tamil Nadu has the notorious reputation of having perhaps the
highest number of VCs and higher authorities of universities in the entire
country facing prosecution agencies and court cases. The state has also witnessed the successive education
ministers going to court on corruption charges in the recent years.
Those
who were appointed as VCs through the wrong means during the earlier periods, threw
the rules and regulations away to the winds.
They made all attempts to make appointments, from the office staff to
the Professor and the Registrar, through unfair means. They devised several innovative
methods such as opening of new departments and bifurcating the existing ones only
to create more opportunities for appointments. Besides they were all the time
involved in irregularities in all the different activities of the universities,
with the intention to make money.
All
these would change when the VCs selected as per the rules begin to act in a
fair manner with determination. The present Governor is maintaining his independence
as the Chancellor and appointing VCs on merit. So there is new hope for the
higher education system in the state. But apparently the DMK does not want this
to continue.
TN
higher education system has major issues to be addressed. Selection of faculty
and staff in different universities and colleges should be made only through fair means. There
should be congenial atmosphere for serious teaching and research. Right now
there is lot of politics and groups with vested interests in universities. The role
of the state Government is critical in all these aspects.
While
the National Education Policy is opening up new avenues and funds are being
made available by the centre, TN is not fully geared up to grab the
opportunities. It is time for the authorities in the TN higher education system
to understand the realities and re-orient themselves for a complete overhaul of
the system based on transparency and merit.
In
this connection, the appointment of VCs by the state Government would further
bring down the quality of higher education, when the TN universities are already
finding it difficult to recover from the misdeeds of the earlier periods.
The
educationists, academicians and all those concerned with the system should join
together to raise their voice for a healthy higher education system in the
state. Meanwhile, the Governor should be requested to not to forward the Bill
to the President of India for assent.
(The
writer had earlier served in the syndicates of TN universities)
( Swarajya, May 4,2022)
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