Chennai: Tamil Nadu higher education department has prepared a panel of 129 associate professors eligible for promotion as principals of Grade II govt colleges for the year 2026-27. It has asked the commissioner of collegiate education to submit proposals for their promotion and postings.At present, 129 govt colleges are headed by in charge principals after appointments were delayed following a Madras high court stay on the seniority list prepared in 2023. College professors alleged that in charge principals were unable to take key decisions on academics and institutional development.“After considering the proposal from the commissioner of collegiate education, the govt directs that the 129 eligible associate professors be included in the regular panel for promotion to the post of principal Grade II for the year 2026-27, subject to the outcome of the court case,” an order issued by higher education secretary Dheeraj Kumar said.
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The order gave associate professors two months to raise objections to their exclusion from the panel.“Any person who wishes to make representation against his or her non-inclusion in the panel shall do so within a period of two months. The commissioner of collegiate education is requested to send the necessary proposal to the govt for the promotion and postings and display the panel on the office notice board,” it said.Tamil Nadu Government Collegiate Teachers’ Association (TNGCTA) urged the state govt to appoint Grade II principals by the end of this month. It also sought the filling of vacancies in Grade I principal and regional joint director posts.“The panel for these posts was prepared and pending with the govt. The principal posts for Grade II govt colleges also should be filled by the end of this month,” TNGCTA general secretary S Suresh said.Govt colleges with more than 2,000 students and at least three postgraduate courses are classified as Grade I colleges. The rest are classified as Grade II colleges.
