VC Selection scam at Anna University, Coimbatore

Senior academicians asserted that any investigation regarding the selection of vice chancellors in Tamil Nadu and-large scale admission of unqualified students into premier Anna University during the past 5 years must be included into the role of power brokers in the Raj Bhavan, unscrupulous IAS officers and political lobbyists. Academicians said that government should fasten their belts to investigate the VC scam at Anna University, Coimbatore.

Higher Education Minister P Palaniappan had declared in the Assembly that the administrative actions of his predecessor K Ponmudy would be probed after obtaining permission from Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The investigation would also cover all the alleged indiscretion in the appointment of vice-chancellors, admission of low-scoring students into Anna University and a mystifying case of a student who has passed the exams without attending the classes, and the college was run by the family of members of former Food Minister E V Velu. 

Some independent academicians also asserted that the government's investigation must not be restrained to punishing but it should also expand its investigation to the individuals who had hampered the way of higher education without any guilt. A man claiming proximity to the Governor-Chancellor's family, a senior IAS officer and political lobbyists were also involved in these irregularities. Some individuals bribed to become the member of vice-chancellor's search committees and also charged some candidates to shortlist their names in the list. This exchange of money from such vice-chancellors was not a one time affair; it continued.

Until money was paid, the affiliations were not granted to colleges/courses. As per a source, even for the recruitment of lecturers, hefty amounts were demanded and as a result incompetent teachers are now part of the universities. To appoint vice-chancellors of power brokers choice, they coerced government to trade-off with Raj Bhawan. In another instance, a member of the committee was also forced to shortlist the candidate who was unskilled academician, and kept missing the post every time in spite of paying money.

However, it was stated clear by some academicians that government should investigate such illegal admissions in the Anna University which took place on the recommendation of the Governor-Chancellor and by the then chief minister and higher education minister.

 

Source: Richha Bhatnagar (Shiksha Team)
Date: 24th August, 2011