Three-member panel to run BU until new VC’s selection

Coimbatore: With Bharathiar University vice-chancellor P Kaliraj demitting the office after his term ended on Sunday, the state government has constituted a three-member convener committee to discharge the duties of the VC.
While higher education secretary D Karthikeyan is the convener of the committe, Kongunadu Arts and Science College secretary C A Vasuki and head of the social work department of the university F X Lovelina Little Flower are its members.
The decision to form the committee was taken during the syndicate meeting that was held on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Karthikeyan and former VC Kaliraj.
The committee will manage the administrative duties of the university until a new VC is appointed, a source said. “While the higher education secretary will take decisions on important issues, Vasuki and Lovelina will discharge day-to-day duties of the university,” the source added.
On September 20, governor R N Ravi constituted a search committee to recommend names for the vice-chancellor post. Retired IAS office PWC Davidar is the government nominee and the committee’s convener while P Duraisamy, a former VC of Madras University, and G Thiruvasagam, a former VC of Bharathiar University, are its members.
State president of the Association of University Teachers (AUT) P Thirunavukkarasu told TOI that the search committee should have been constituted six months before the position becomes vacant.
“However, it was constituted only recently. The applications of aspiring candidates for the post will be scrutinised only after the appointment of a nodal officer. The convener committee must expedite the process of the appointment of the nodal officer.”
He urged the search committee members to carry out the appointment process transparently. He also suggested that the new VC should be chosen from the arts background rather the engineering background.