Salem: Professors and lecturers of Salem Periyar University claimed that extension given to the vice-chancellor on his last day of his tenure was completely wrong. “The governor did not follow the guidelines prescribed for tenure extension,” they said.
One of the senior professors of the university told TOI on condition of anonymity that the extension order was given to P Kolandaivel from the governor’s office after he went back home following the send-off party. “Tenure extension was not given to any of the VCs in the state in the last 10 years,” he added.
The Tamil Nadu governor Banwarlal Purohit had issued an order on Thursday extending the period of the VC Kolandaivel until further orders. The governor also mentioned in the order that the VC also could be in the post until he (governor) appoints a new VC.
The syndicate members of the varsity constituted a steering committee to run the varsity until the governor appoints a new vice chancellor. The syndicate too approved the steering committee at the end of the meeting on Thursday. Followeing the meeting, members of both senate and syndicate organised the send-off party to Kolandaivel.
All the members were surprised after they were informed that the VC could continue his term in the varsity until further orders or a new VC assumed charges.
The professors commented that the VCs tenure could be extended only during an emergency situation. “There’s no such emergency or a crisis situation in the varsity and the governor did not follow the rules and regulations,” he said, adding that the governor has shown a wrong example to other varsity VCs.
The governor office did not set up any committee to appoint a new VC for the university. However, the governor's office did not mind it even after notifying it on several occasions. The search committee was constituted at the eleventh hour.