TN CM Vijay orders fast-track appointment of Vice Chancellors, faculty recruitment in state universities
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has directed officials to expedite the appointment of Vice Chancellors (VCs) in 15 state-run universities and address the long-pending shortage of teaching staff to improve higher education across the state.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, Vijay held discussions with Higher Education Minister P. Vishwanathan and senior officials on the challenges facing state universities. The meeting focused on filling leadership vacancies, improving academic standards and strengthening the financial health of higher educational institutions.
The Chief Minister stressed the need to appoint full-time Vice Chancellors without delay, as around 15 of Tamil Nadu's 22 state universities are currently functioning without permanent VCs. He also reviewed measures to improve governance and ensure smooth academic functioning.
The issue of VC appointments has remained unresolved for years due to disagreements between the previous DMK government and former Governor R.N. Ravi, who had objected to the composition of VC search committees, citing non-compliance with University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines. The dispute had also prompted the previous government to propose legislation seeking to transfer the Chancellor's powers from the Governor to the Chief Minister.
Apart from leadership vacancies, Vijay also reviewed the shortage of faculty in government institutions. Academic bodies have urged the government to fill more than 5,000 teaching posts and 124 principal vacancies in 188 government arts and science colleges, warning that prolonged staff shortages have adversely affected students and academic quality.
The state government is expected to initiate the recruitment process soon as part of its efforts to strengthen higher education and improve the functioning of Tamil Nadu's public universities.
