Administrative delay increases as V-C’s post remains vacant at Bharathidasan University

The delay in appointing the Vice-Chancellor to Bharathidasan University (BDU), even nine months after M. Selvam demitted office, has raised concern among academic circles in Tiruchi.

M. Selvam was the Vice-Chancellor of the university for four years, including one year extension and retired on February 5. A three-member Vice-Chancellor Convenor Committee was constituted to perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor until the post is filled.

Commissioner of Collegiate Education E. Sundaravalli is the Convener of the Committee. The other two members are Syndicate members R. Sakthi Krishnan and V. Rajesh Kannan.

According to sources, the daily work of the university had slowed down in the absence of a Vice-Chancellor. “Many decisions have been kept pending in the absence of the Vice-Chancellor. Some issues take time to get concurrence because the committee members are in different locations,” said a senior university official.

Academicians have urged the authorities to speed up the appointment in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the university, which has about 153 affiliated colleges. In addition to them, it has to handle the activities of 38 departments.

It is understood that files related to the day-to-day administration of the university are referred to the committee members. Ms. Sundaravalli, who functions from Chennai, has to handle all files of the university in addition to her regular role as the Commissioner of Collegiate Education. Moreover, she is also the Convener of the VC Convenor Committee of Madurai Kamaraj University because of the vacancy of the post in that institution.

“When a regular VC is on campus, the files and matters of the university are dealt with without delay rather than being sent onward to higher officials for their sanction. Though video-conference meetings are held at present, crucial matters are getting delayed. Physical presence of the VC is essential for the betterment of the administration,” David Livingstone, State president of Tamil Nadu Government Collegiate Teachers’ Association, told The Hindu.