64 extra students admitted to CEG last year: Anna University faculty

Chennai: Stoking yet another controversy, faculty members of Anna University alleged that as many as 64 students in four departments at College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG) of the university were admitted in “excess” and demanded a full-fledged inquiry into the admissions made last year in the university.

But, Anna University officials attributed the excess students to various quotas including NRI, industrial, Gulf and foreign nationals.

According to details obtained through RTI application, totally 1,183 students admitted at CEG during 2017-18 before the medical counselling.

After the medical counselling, 167 students from the top engineering college quit the engineering courses and joined MBBS course. Some students were joined in other courses like agriculture and BVSc.

So, totally, 997 students were studying in various departments as on October 31, 2017, as per the  details provided by CEG dean. “When we cross-checked the attendance records of third-semester students, we found that 39 students from ECE department were not featured on the list provided by the CEG dean. Thirteen students were in excess from EEE department and eight students in the manufacturing department and four students in the mining department,” sources in the university said.

They raised doubts that the lapsed seats (vacancies emerged after students joined MBBS and other courses) might have been filled last year. When contacted T.V. Geetha, dean, College of Engineering, Guindy denied filling any lapsed seats during 2017-18. “We still have those seats vacant even in the third semester. We have provided details of admissions conducted only through TNEA single window counselling. The excess numbers are the admissions conducted under various quotas including the NRI quota,” she said.

The university is admitting up to 20 per cent students in every department under four different quotas. “We are providing five per cent seats with each to NRIs, the consortium of industries, Gulf countries and foreign nationals apart from the admissions made through TNEA counselling. The 20 per cent excess seats have caused confusion,” explained G.Nagarajan, director (admissions), Anna University. He also pointed out that filling lapsed seats will attract contempt of court as the apex court has banned it. In the ECE department, the total intake is 180 students. The 20 per cent in the ECE department is 36 seats. The university has exceeded 20 per cent  cap at ECE department as it had admitted 39 students in excess. “In this case, we need to verify admission details,” he said.

Professors sought inquiry in to the admissions made under these quotas in computer science, mechanical and IT departments as well. 

They alleged that there is always a veil of secrecy when it comes to admissions under these four categories and demanded the university to release all details of admissions made in these categories last year and in the current academic year. 

Anna University Vice-Chancellor M.K. Surappa said he did not found anything wrong in the last year’s admission. “I am personally verifying all the records pertaining to the admissions conducted last year. So far, I found no wrongdoing. I have no problem in releasing the all the admission details and make the entire process transparent,” he assured.