Key admin, faculty positions still vacant in n Pondicherry Central University

Puducherry: Key administrative posts, including that of Vice Chancellor (VC), registrar, finance officer and controller of examinations remain vacant in Pondicherry Central University. With such powerful independent roles remaining vacant, the university is unable to address important issues efficiently, students and staff members said.

Pondicherry University has been without a permanent VC for more than one year as Chandra Krishnamurthy was dismissed from service through an order of the President.

Vital posts are occupied by ‘in-charges’ including Anisa B.Khan as vice-chancellor in-charge, M Ramachandran as registrar in-charge, K. Tharanikkarasu as controller of examinations in-charge and Malabika Deo as finance officer in-charge.

For the last five years, the university has shown nil growth in most fields because of the absence of permanent administrators, say senior staff members of the university.

“After former VC, J.A.K. Tareen demitted office, no activities are going on in the university. Many posts are vacant for several years. A central university, which showed 300 per cent growth rate once, is not even functioning at the level of a state university now, which is pathetic”, said a senior teaching faculty of the university on strict condition of anonymity.

The current administration is a complete failure in addressing any issues related to the university. “Take the recent examples of students’ council magazine or students’ council election. These issues proved that the university administration has ‘double standards’ in approaching any matter.

Many important issues seem to have been mishandled by the university, including the promotion of teaching and non-teaching staff members, 25 per cent reservation to local students, etc.” the professor alleged.

Students of the university also shared similar concerns over academic issues.
“When some students approached the Madras High Court against the reservation policy of the University in PhD courses, the administration completely failed to address the issue in a time-bound manner. As a result, PhD admission to many departments are not completed yet.

“Many students missed their opportunity to apply for national level scholarships because of this. This is just one example of how the university handle issues,” said Maya (name changed) a student of the university.

Former Member of Parliament and former professor of the university M. Ramadass has appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee to intervene and appoint a new Vice-Chancellor for the University.

“Pondicherry University provided a classic case of how a prestigious central university can be devastated simply by the indifferent approach and inappropriate decisions of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development,” noted Mr. Ramdass in his letter.

Even though the ministry starts the procedure to appoint a permanent VC by now, it may take another one year or more to complete the process, say faculty members of the university.