‘Form search panel 6 months before Anna University V-C’s exit’

CHENNAI: Days after its former Vice-Chancellor (V-C) and six professors were booked for corruption by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Anna University hosted a discussion on ‘Higher Education and Corruption’ on Sunday.

The discussion, led by former Anna University V-C M Anandakrishnan, was organised by the Joint Action Council of College Teachers, Tamil Nadu, and Tamil Nadu Federation of University Faculty Associations.
Speaking on the domination of bureaucrats in institutions, Anandakrishnan said even with good intentions, the academic autonomy may be compromised by bureaucrats. “They may be intelligent, but not intellectually superior, although there are exceptions. They will not hesitate to use their membership of governing bodies and financial powers to control the autonomy,” he said.

On the numerous instances where paying money, often in crores, for the V-C’s posts is looked upon as an investment of sorts to swindle money once the individual gains office, Anandakrishnan suggested a few remedies to set things right.

According to him, the search committee should be constituted six months prior to the retirement of the incumbent V-C and its members should possess equal educational qualifications as that of the V-C or better than that. He also suggested that the committee must have a UGC representative from outside the State.
As for the applicants to the post, he said they should be required to upload their applications on the website and must give three references to the search committee.

The search committee, in turn, should shortlist not more than 10 candidates for more detailed scrutiny and the shortlisted candidates must be subjected to vigilance clearance. “The search committee should submit the panel of names to the Chancellor with all members present, where the Chancellor may also be able to get clarifications about shortlisted candidates,” he said.

T K Rangarajan, Member of Parliament, said it was impossible to talk about corruption without talking about today’s political scenario. “Cultural and sexual corruptions are also important aspects of corruption that we should discuss,” he said.

A James William, former president of the All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations, said the grade-3 colleges were going to be the “untouchables of the education system”, where students from financially backward classes come to learn, but receive no upward social mobility in return.