Ethiraj College principal selection set aside

Chennai: Holding that the selection committee had not been constituted in accordance with 2010 UGC regulations, the Madras high court set aside the selection of Prof A. Nirmala to the post of principal of Ethiraj College for Women in the city. Justice M.M. Sundresh also directed the chairman, board of trustees, and the chairperson of the selection panel to reconstitute the body in accordance with the regulations of 2010, and to complete it within 12 weeks.

The judge, however, allowed Prof Nirmala to continue as principal till a fresh selection was made while allowing pleas from professors K.R.S. Girija Shyamsundar, V. Shanthi, Chitraa Venkataachalam and M. Thilakavathy.The petitioners and Prof Nirmala work as professors in the college which is governed by the chairman, board of trustees. After a circular calling for applications for the post of the principal, the petitioners and Prof Nirmala applied and were called for the interview. Prof Nirmala was selected and appointed as principal. Challenging the decision, the petitioners approached the Madras HC.

Senior counsel R. Muthukumaraswamy submitted that the petitioners were more qualified than Prof Nirmala. The UGC regulations on minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges for 2010 and the subsequent amendments made, had not been followed, he added.