Governor includes UGC nominees in VC search panel
In a move that is likely to lead to a fresh stand-off with the State government, Governor RN Ravi on Wednesday announced the constitution of search-cum-selection committees, including UGC nominees, to pick Vice-Chancellors to three universities, effectively negating the upper hand that the State governments have enjoyed in selecting V-Cs.
Incidentally, the controversy-in-the-making is the same that is now being played out in West Bengal between Governor CV Ananda Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Wielding his authority as the Chancellor, the Governor constituted the panels to select V-Cs of the University of Madras, Bharathiar University (BU) and Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University (TNTEU).
The statement from Raj Bhavan said there would be UGC nominees on each panel.
“For Bharathiar University, the Chancellor has appointed B Thimmegowda as UGC nominee, and for Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University and University of Madras, HCS Rathore as UGC nominee. For TNTEU, the Chancellor has appointed Sushma Yadava and for the University of Madras, the Governor has appointed Battu Satyanarayana as his nominee,” it added.
Slamming the Governor’s move, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy said there is no provision in the University Act to change the selection committee. “There are 13 universities functioning under the Higher Education department. These universities have their own rules and regulations. There is no provision in the University Act to change the selection committee.