Norms flouted in university recruitment: DVAC

Former Anna University Vice-Chancellor M. Rajaram violated a Madras High Court order and increased the maximum score for interviews from 10 to 20 marks for recruiting teachers, “thereby giving more scope for discretion”, a probe by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has revealed.

The agency, which registered a case against Mr. Rajaram, who was the Vice-Chancellor between 2013 and 2016, and six faculty members of the university, said in its FIR that he and other selection committee members awarded more marks to ineligible candidates.

‘Marked in pencil’

“Further, it revealed that interview marks were marked in pencil, so that manipulation may be done in favour of ineligible candidates during their appointments,” the FIR said. In many cases, full marks were awarded to ineligible candidates in the interview.

The agency alleged that the accused obtained illegal gratification ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹45 lakh from ineligible candidates and appointed them to various teaching positions, including that of Professors.

According to the FIR, Jayshree, Assistant Professor, Department of Bio-medical Engineering; Helen Kalavathi, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering; Balamurugan, Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering; Mandhakini, Assistant Professor, Department of Material Science (Nano Science); V. Jayalakshmi, Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering; and M. Arivanandham, Associate Professor, Department of Material Science (Nano Science) were appointed for illegal gratification.

They have been named as accused in the case.

Mr. Rajaram, the FIR said, by virtue of being the ex officio chairman of the university’s syndicate, convened and presided over the meetings of the Selection Committee, which recommended their appointments.

The candidates were recruited flouting norms set by the AICTE, UGC and the scheme of selection framed by the Madras High Court.

The six accused faculty members had not submitted the experience certificates in the prescribed format or fulfil the minimum teaching experience required for the posts for which they were selected.