Madras High Court prodding on Puducherry varsity VC appointment brings hope
Chennai: The Madras High Court’s recent intervention in the appointment of the Vice Chancellor to Pondicherry Central University, urging the Centre to take a decision immediately, has lent relief to both students and faculty members.
The university is functioning without a Vice-Chancellor for nearly two and-half years now and insiders say this has taken a great toll on the university.
The Madras High Court on Friday had directed the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) to inform the court on October 10, on when the post of the Vice Chancellor of Pondicherry University would be filled up failing which the court will summon the MHRD secretary in person.
Though the court was informed that a standing council of the Central government has appointed a committee to find new Vice Chancellor and the list of candidates has been finalised, they were not able to state when the process would be over. As per the request made by the standing council, the court has given time till October 10.
The university fails to address important issues efficiently as the powerful independent posts remain vacant, complain students and staff.
The post was advertised after one year on August 21, 2016 and the search committee met after seven months and recommended a panel of five candidates to the ministry on March 29 for onward transmission to the President (Visitor of the University) for final selection of the Vice-Chancellor. Even after six months, the central government had not selected a candidate for the post of Vice-Chancellor from the recommended list of names.
“Apart from the key administrative posts, more than 200 teaching and 200 non-teaching staff posts are vacant. Around 6,000 students are studying in the university and its affiliated colleges. The Central government’s attitude towards this premier institution is seriously affecting the performance of the university,” said a senior officer of the university.
The former Member of Parliament M. Ramadass had also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and appoint a new Vice-Chancellor for Pondicherry Central University.
