Ex-Anna University V-C urges Governor, CM to bury the hatchet over V-C appointments

Former Anna University Vice Chancellor, E. Balagurusamy, on Friday urged Governor R.N. Ravi and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to arrive at a ‘temporary, pragmatic compromise’ for appointment of Vice Chancellors to the Tamil Nadu’s public universities.

In an open letter, Prof. Balagurusamy proposed the consensual use of existing university Acts and established conventions for appointment of Vice Chancellors either on an interim or a regular basis as a possible way forward. This would, however, be subject to the final outcome of judicial review.

The absence of VCs in several universities has led to “administrative paralysis, delayed academic decisions, stalled faculty recruitment and promotions, uncertainty in financial governance, and a growing erosion of academic morale”, he added.

A consensus between the Governor and the State government would “restore academic and administrative stability, protect the interests of students and faculty, demonstrate statesmanship and constitutional maturity, and reaffirm that higher education remains above political and constitutional conflict”, he averred.