Tanuvas set to go headless, search panel not yet formed

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas) is heading towards an administrative mess and is all set to remain headless without vice-chancellor from December 10, as its incumbent VC Dr S. Thilagar’s term comes to an end on December 9. The state has so far not constituted the mandatory search committee to appoint the next vice-chancellor.

According to informed sources with Tanuvas, the 3-year tenure of the VC expires next month and the state should have formulated the search committee in October to recommend three names of eminent academicians to head the varsity. The search committee invites application from prospective candidates and will finalise three names of academicians and then recommend the same to the office of TN governor and to the state. Governor who is the chancellor for all the state run universities will take a final call in appointing the next VC and in some cases the state government also takes the initiative in appointing the next VC.

“Under these circumstances the office of chancellor (Governor) or pro chancellor (minister of higher education) should first take immediate efforts to formulate the search committee to recommend the names of aspiring VC’s”, a senior faculty member of Tanuvas told DC. And if there is a delay, an additional convenor committee can also be formulated to exercise the powers of VC. Also Tanuvas registrar T.J. Harikrishnan is holding an in-charge post and is due to retire in January 2018, the official said.