Coimbatore: A section of academics at has called for the appointment of an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer as interim Vice-Chancellor, citing administrative challenges, delays in faculty promotions and disagreements among different groups within the university.
The proposal comes amid concerns over the selection of an interim university head and the handling of pending administrative matters. Academics supporting the idea believe an officer with administrative experience could help address disputes and ensure that decisions are taken objectively in the interests of students.
However, the proposal represents a demand from a section of academics. No official announcement confirming the appointment of an IAS officer as interim Vice-Chancellor was identified in the reports reviewed.
Faculty Promotions and Administrative Disputes
One of the principal concerns raised by faculty members relates to delays in implementing promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS).
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The Higher Education Department is reportedly examining issues concerning some faculty appointments made during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor A. Ganapathy. Ganapathy was arrested in 2018 in connection with alleged irregularities in faculty recruitment in 2016.
The reported concerns have added to disagreements over the processing of pending promotions. The allegations relating to the earlier recruitment process should be distinguished from the current dispute over promotions.
Other issues highlighted by university sources include:
- Pending CAS promotions: A section of faculty members has expressed dissatisfaction over delays in processing career advancement cases.
- Appointments under time-bound schemes: Questions have reportedly been raised about staff continuing in service beyond the original tenure of certain five-year plan-period appointments.
- Administrative disagreements: Differences have emerged between sections of the teaching and non-teaching workforce over university decisions.
- Selection of an interim head: Some academics believe that choosing an internal candidate could prove difficult because of disagreements and concerns surrounding potential candidates.
These concerns have been cited by supporters of appointing an IAS officer, although the proposed arrangement has not been announced as a government decision.
Internal Divisions Complicate Interim VC Selection
According to accounts from academics and former university officials, selecting an interim Vice-Chancellor from among senior faculty members has become contentious.
Some potential candidates reportedly face unresolved administrative or disciplinary issues, while another senior academic is approaching retirement. A former Registrar-in-Charge has also reportedly been excluded from consideration because certain allegations against her remain unresolved.
There are further divisions among sections of the faculty, including caste-based polarisation, as an additional complication in the selection process.
Non-permanent non-teaching employees have also reportedly raised objections to administrative decisions they consider arbitrary.
These accounts reflect concerns expressed by university sources and do not constitute independent findings of misconduct against any individual.
Bharathiar University’s Current Administrative Arrangement
Bharathiar University’s official website lists Dheeraj Kumar, a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre with a B.Tech degree in Civil Engineering, as Additional Chief Secretary to the Tamil Nadu Government’s Higher Education Department and convenor of the committee performing the duties of the Vice-Chancellor.
The university’s website therefore confirms an existing committee-based arrangement for performing the Vice-Chancellor’s functions. The demand reported by academics concerns the appointment of an IAS officer to serve as interim Vice-Chancellor, rather than evidence that such an individual appointment has already been approved.
Annamalai University Precedent
Supporters of the proposal have pointed to the appointment of senior IAS officer Shiv Das Meena (1989: TN), at Annamalai University in 2013 as an example of a civil servant being brought in to oversee a university facing administrative and financial difficulties.
University records from the period identify Meena as the institution’s Administrator under the arrangement introduced by the Tamil Nadu government.
The precedent is therefore relevant to the proposal for administrative intervention, but it does not establish that the same arrangement will be adopted at Bharathiar University.
Appointment Remains a Matter for the Authorities
The call for an IAS officer to lead Bharathiar University on an interim basis reflects concerns among a section of academics about the institution’s administrative functioning and the selection of its next leadership.
The university’s immediate challenges include resolving outstanding faculty promotion matters, addressing staff grievances and maintaining the functioning of its academic and administrative departments.
Whether the authorities will appoint an IAS officer as interim Vice-Chancellor remains unconfirmed.
