Controversy Unfolds: Tamil Nadu Government Removes UGC Nominee from VC Search Panel

In a recent development, the Tamil Nadu government has taken a significant step by establishing a three-member search committee responsible for recommending candidates for the prestigious position of Vice-Chancellor (VC) at the University of Madras. This decision has generated considerable attention and controversy in the wake of a vacancy in the V-C position, which arose last month. In this blog post, we delve into the details of this unfolding saga and explore the implications it holds for higher education institutions in Tamil Nadu.

The University of Madras Vacancy and Government's Response: The recent vacancy in the Vice-Chancellor position at the University of Madras triggered a series of actions and reactions from the Tamil Nadu government.

• Governor Ravi's Notifications: On September 6, Governor RN Ravi issued notifications forming four-member VC search-cum-selection committees for the University of Madras, Bharathiar University, and Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Education University. This move set the stage for a contentious dispute between the State government and the Governor himself.

• State Government's Response: The State government vehemently opposed Governor Ravi's actions, asserting that they were unilateral and in violation of the statutes governing these universities. It argued that the Governor lacked the authority to issue such notifications, as reported by [The Hindu](insert link).

• Official Notification: On September 13, 2023, the Tamil Nadu government issued an official notification for the University of Madras, introducing key committee members. Battu Satyanarayana, currently serving as the V-C of the Central University of Karnataka, was nominated by the Governor/Chancellor and appointed as the committee's convener. The committee also includes K Deenabandu, a member of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission, as the Syndicate’s nominee, and P Jagadeesan, former V-C of Bharathidasan University, serving as the Senate’s nominee.

The UGC Chairman's Nominee Controversy: A pivotal point of contention between the Governor and the State government revolved around the exclusion of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman's nominee.

• Differing Perspectives: While the three individuals mentioned above held the same positions in both notifications, the State government's notification notably omitted the fourth member, who was designated as the nominee of the UGC Chairman, as present in the Governor's notification.

• Governor's Position: Governor Ravi argued that the inclusion of the UGC Chairman's nominee was mandatory according to UGC's regulations.

• State Government's Stand: On the other hand, the State government seemed to hold the view that the inclusion of the UGC Chairman's nominee was not necessary.

Historical Context: This dispute is not the first of its kind. A similar sequence of events unfolded in 2022, where the Tamil Nadu government issued notifications to form three-member search committees for Bharathiar University and Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Education University. Governor Ravi's counter-notification, establishing four-member committees with the UGC Chairman's nominees, was perceived as an attempt to supersede the government's notifications.

Ongoing V-C Vacancies: As this situation continues to unfold, it's important to note that vacancies in the Vice-Chancellor positions at Bharathiar University and Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Education University have persisted since October 2022 and November 2022, respectively.

 The establishment of a search committee for the University of Madras Vice-Chancellor position has become a focal point of contention between the Tamil Nadu government and the Governor. The differing perspectives on the inclusion of the UGC Chairman's nominee have added complexity to the situation. As this story develops, it raises important questions about governance, authority, and regulations in the higher education sector in Tamil Nadu. We will continue to monitor and report on the latest developments in this ongoing saga.