CHENNAI: Former Anna University Vice-Chancellor E Balagurusamy has urged the Governor and the Chief Minister to arrive at an interim arrangement to appoint vice-chancellors in State universities, warning that the continuing deadlock has begun to seriously impair the functioning of higher education institutions in Tamil Nadu.
In a letter addressed to both offices, Prof Balagurusamy said the prolonged stalemate in appointing vice-chancellors to several State universities had resulted in administrative paralysis, delays in academic decision-making, faculty recruitment and promotions.
Students, who have no role in the institutional dispute, were bearing the brunt of the consequences, he said.
Pointing out that the matter of vice-chancellor appointments is currently sub judice, he noted that Raj Bhavan and the State government have taken divergent positions based on their respective interpretations of constitutional and statutory authority.
The absence of regular leadership at the helm of universities, he warned, was beginning to affect day-to-day administration, academic planning and institutional morale.
Pointing out that the matter of vice-chancellor appointments is currently sub judice, he noted that Raj Bhavan and the State government have taken divergent positions based on their respective interpretations of constitutional and statutory authority.
The absence of regular leadership at the helm of universities, he warned, was beginning to affect day-to-day administration, academic planning and institutional morale.
Such a step, he said, would help restore academic and administrative stability, protect the interests of students and faculty members, and reaffirm that higher education should remain above political and constitutional conflicts.
He appealed to both offices to take immediate steps to ensure that Tamil Nadu’s universities function with dignity, leadership and purpose.