Inquiry committee finds gross irregularities in appointment of professors in University of Madras

An inquiry committee has discovered gross irregularities within the course of of constructing appointments to the submit of professor in numerous departments of the University of Madras (UoM) in 2014-15. The committee’s report, which was positioned earlier than the Syndicate on Monday (August 18, 2025), unearthed a number of discrepancies, together with violation of eligibility standards and University Grants Commission (UGC) norms for the recruitment of professors.

The Syndicate has resolved to ship show-cause notices to the individuals involved below Section 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, sources within the University stated.

On June 1, 2014, the University marketed for 22 posts of professors in numerous departments, which appeared in an English newspaper circulated within the State, a neighborhood language day by day, and a political social gathering’s information outlet. The report held that as per the procedures adopted, the commercial ought to have appeared in nationwide newspapers.

Going into additional particulars, the report said that barring three candidates, not one of the different functions had been scrutinised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), a physique mandated by UGC/NAAC pointers to take care of paperwork and develop Academic Performance Indicator (API) standards for the recruitment of academics. The inquiry committee, which was constituted following a court docket route in August 2024, had appointed Elangovan Vellaichamy, Controller of Examinations (in-charge), because the nodal officer to take management of all paperwork pertaining to the recruitment course of and put together a confidential report based mostly on the assessments as per UGC norms.

“It is discovered and as said by the Nodal Officer, as per the information supplied by the D1 Establishment part, solely three functions regarding Dr. S. Manivasakan of the Centre for South and South East Asian Studies, Dr. P.D. Balaji of Ancient History and Archaeology, and Dr. V. Chandrasekar of Department of Education had been verified by the IQAC and different functions weren’t verified,” the report, which has been accessed by The Hindu, learn.

Discrepancies

Citing particular circumstances, the report said that S.S. Sundaram had utilized for the place of affiliate professor and his utility was submitted a minimum of six months after the final date for submission. He was appointed as professor within the Department of History.

Similarly, the committee discovered no proof to point out that V. Bhuvarahamurthy, appointed as professor within the Department of Medical Biochemistry, had any prior educating expertise. With regard to S. Sumathy, appointed as professor within the Department of Anthropology, the Nodal Officer may discover no utility or particulars about her PhD, publications, and educating functions within the college paperwork.

Dr. S. Manivasakan, appointed as professor in Centre for South and South East Asian Studies, secured 54.1% in his submit graduate diploma in Defence Studies, whereas the minimal qualification marks is 55%, the report identified. S. Saravanan, appointed as professor within the Department of Saiva Siddhantha, didn’t have the required providers as affiliate professor and his utility was not scrutinised by the IQAC, the report added.

Many of the 16 professors appointed throughout this course of have since retired from service. In 2019, Syed Rahamathullah, a retired professor of the Department of Hindi, filed a writ petition within the Madras High Court in search of route to represent a committee to probe the irregularities within the appointment of professors. In August final 12 months, the court docket dominated in his favour following which, a committee was constituted with Sarit Kumar Das, professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, as convenor, and S. Gowri, former Vice-Chancellor, UoM, and Justice P. Jyothimani, retired Madras High Court choose, as members. The committee submitted its report on May 14, 2025.