Bharathidasan University Scraps Appointment Panel, Forms New Committee Amid Controversy
In a significant administrative move, Bharathidasan University has cancelled the existing panel for scrutinizing appointments to key positions, including registrar, controller of examinations (COE), and director for the Centre for Distance Education (CDE). This decision comes more than ten days after the governor's syndicate nominee walked out of the committee proceedings, citing issues with candidate eligibility. The university administration has now ordered the formation of a fresh committee to oversee the appointment process.
Walkout and Cancellation of Original Panel
The original committee faced disruption on February 9 when S Amudha, the governor's nominee, exited the meeting. This walkout was prompted by disagreements over marking certain candidates as 'non-eligible' during the scrutiny process. In response, the university issued an official communication on February 20 to the concerned members, stating that the existing committee had been cancelled for "administrative reasons". The communication did not provide further details on the specific administrative issues leading to this decision.
Constitution of New Scrutiny Committee
A new committee has been constituted and is scheduled to meet on March 3 to resume the appointment scrutiny. The members of this fresh panel include:
- A Senthil Rajan, registrar of Alagappa University
- V Rajesh Kannan, VC committee member at Bharathidasan University (BDU)
- S Mohan, governor's nominee in the syndicate
- E Ram Ganesh, senior professor in the department of educational technology
- N Sumathi, syndicate member
This new formation aims to address the previous impasse and move forward with the appointment process for the three critical positions.
Controversy Over Committee Composition
Despite the establishment of the new committee, several academicians have raised concerns about its composition. A senior member of the new panel expressed reservations, stating, "I have differences over its formation and have notified the same to registrar R Kalidasan. There should be an inquiry into why the earlier committee was cancelled before constituting a new one." This sentiment highlights ongoing tensions within the university's administrative framework.
Further criticism came from a retired senior university professor, who argued, "Ideally, a VC committee should not include one of its own members in the scrutiny committee. This appears to be an attempt to delay the process." The inclusion of V Rajesh Kannan, a VC committee member, has sparked debate over potential conflicts of interest and the transparency of the appointment procedures.
Broader Implications and Political Undertones
K Pandiyan, former president of the Association of University Teachers (AUT), commented on the situation, noting, "The very formation of a new committee suggests that there was an inquiry by the higher education department. However, it is unfortunate that even a scrutiny committee, which is a small part of the process, is riddled with internal politics. If this is the situation now, one can imagine how the appointment process will unfold." This statement underscores concerns about political interference and bureaucratic hurdles affecting university governance.
As previously reported, the registrar's communication indicated that 18 applications were received for the post of registrar, 16 for controller of examinations, and 13 for director of the Centre for Distance Education. Sources revealed that one of the applicants for the registrar position is the guide of school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyamozhi, adding another layer of complexity to the scrutiny process.
Background and Application Details
The appointment process for these key roles has attracted significant attention due to the high number of applicants and the involvement of prominent figures. The cancellation of the original panel and the formation of a new committee reflect ongoing challenges in ensuring fair and transparent selection procedures within the university. The upcoming meeting on March 3 will be closely watched by stakeholders to assess whether the new committee can navigate these controversies and facilitate a smooth appointment process.
