Dr MK Surappa appointed Anna University VC

The formal appointment order was given to Surappa by Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit, who is also the Chancellor of Anna University, at Raj Bhavan. Accordingly, Surappa was appointed for three years from the date of his assumption of office. A Raj Bhavan communique said that Surappa was Director of Indian Institute of Technology Ropar for six years between June 20, 2009 to June 20, 2015. 

Having done his Doctorate in Metallurgical Engineering, he also has 30 years of teaching experience, of which 24 years were spent at the Indian Institute of Science. 

In addition, Surappa is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy and a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. He has 150 research publications and four patents to his credit. Earlier this week, the interview committee members for appointing the vice chancellor scrutinised more than 150 applicants out of which five people were short-listed. 

The three-member interview panel included Sunil Paliwal, secretary, Higher Education, K Vivekanandan, director of technical education and TV Geetha from College of Engineering, Guindy. Paliwal is also a member of the university syndicate. Rajaram was the previous Vice-Chancellor of the University, who completed his tenure in May 2016. Since then all day-to-day work was maintained by senior professors of the university. 

Last May, the Tamil Nadu government had amended existing rules governing the appointment of vice-chancellors in universities of the state and the constitution of a search committee. The required qualifications for Vice-Chancellor were someone who was a noted academician, with 10 years of service either in a State or Central educational institution or equivalent to the post of a director or chief official in a similar educational institution.