Appointments made by Pachaiyappa’s Trust void

Holding that once the fraudulent elements are identified in the process of selection, nothing can stop the High Court from issuing suitable directions to set right the process by conducting a re-selection, Justice S M Subramaniam directed the Interim Administrator appointed by the High Court of Madras to conduct a fresh selection for appointments/promotions to the post of principal for all the colleges by strictly following the Statutes/Rules and the University Grants Commission(UGC) Regulations.

The process of selection is directed to be concluded as expeditiously as possible and without causing any delay, the judge said while directing the Interim Administrator to look into the complaints made by the writ petitioners and other members in respect of corrupt activities in the process of selection and file appropriate complaint before the Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, who in turn, shall probe the issues in relation to the corrupt activities in the process of selection, with reference to the competent educational authorities, and the University and initiate all appropriate actions.

A batch of writ petitions were filed, challenging the process of selection conducted by the Selection Committee appointed by the Pachaiyappa’s Trust Board mainly on the ground that the University Grants Commission Regulations as well as Section 11(4) of the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges (Regulation) Act were not followed.

While making the promotions, the names of all the eligible and qualified teachers working in the colleges are to be considered. Only in the event of non-availability of qualified teachers within the college, then the administration can go in for filling up the post by way of direct recruitment, the petitions said.

Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai is one among the six colleges administered by the Pachaiyappa’s Trust Board. The Pachaiyappa’s Trust Board is now under the administrative control of the Interim Administrator appointed by the High Court.