Chennai: The Tamil Nadu state government, on April 15, 2013, introduced a bill in the assembly to take over the crisis-ridden 84 year old Annamalai University in Chidambaram. Titled with The Annamalai University Bill 2013, the legislation stipulates that the Minister for Higher Education portfolio shall be the Pro-Chancellor of the University.
While introducing the bill, P Palaniappan, Higher Education Minister, Tamil Nadu, said that the government is keen to retain the standard of the University as in the past few years, the education system and administration in the University has not been satisfactory. As per the bill, the property of the University including movable and immovable belonging shall stand transferred to the University or the trust under the new act.
Moreover, the bill also paves the way of appointment of vice-chancellor, registrar and all other official below these two ranks. Though the position of founder appears to be an honorary one, past experience indicates that the powers and privileges conferred on the founder has been grossly abused, bill also stated.
Discussing about the need of the bill, Mr P Palaniappan said that the provisions of Annamalai University act 1928 were not similar to the other University acts in the state. The power and privileges given to the founder under the Annamalai University Act 1928 were unconstitutional and had led to mal-administration of the University. The current bill is essential to provide adequate representation for the present day stake holders, he further added.
Founded by Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar, Annamalai University has been at the centre of so many controversies, such as allegations of financial irregularities worth several crores of rupees, failure to deposit Provident Fund money and excess appointments. Also, the Joint action council of the Annamalai University teaching and non-teaching staff association was engaged in so many protests during the month of November 2012.
All these incidents forced the government to appoint a special administrator for maintaining the law and order in the University campus. The bill was introduced by the government to safeguard the welfare of the students and maintain the academic standard of the University. A special local fund auditing team has also been appointed by the government to assess the financial and other irregularities in the University.
