Anna Univ agrees to conduct engg counselling, but with riders

University sources told DT Next on Friday that Surappa changed his mind considering the future of thousands of students, which would be affected if the counselling is delayed. However, a senior staff said Surappa would head the counselling team this year only if the government cancelled the order appointing Mangat Ram Sharma.

But a senior official from the department said that it would be difficult to change the order, as the authorities have accepted Surappa’s resignation and appointed K Vivekanandan as the new TNEA chairman. Vivekanandan is currently serving as the Commissioner of Technical Education.

“The government had not ignored Anna University vice chancellor from the counselling panel in the new order. His (Surappa) post was re-designated from chairman to co-chairman in the counselling panel of the institution,” the official contended.

The official also hinted that the government itself was planning to conduct counselling this year if the tussle between the department and the Anna University did not reach a truce.

However, a university official pointed out that co-ordinator post in the counselling panel was ranked higher than the co-chairman post. “If the counselling is conducted in Anna University under the new panel, there will only be more government interference,” he added.

Stating more than one lakh students would be seeking engineering admissions this year, he pointed out it would be difficult for the government to conduct counselling, as it requires infrastructure facilities including for online admissions.