Chennai: The Syndicate of Annamalai University on Wednesday resolved to appoint Professor V Selvanarayananof the department of entomology as its in-charge vice-chancellor (VC).Similarly, the Syndicates of Alagappa University and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University resolved to appoint Professor J Jeyakanthan of the department of bioinformatics at Alagappa University and Professor S Prabahar of the department of English at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, as in-charge VCs.Both professors were appointed interim vice-chancellors in Aug as an ad hoc measure and are now being appointed by their respective university syndicates.“The syndicates of three state universities have resolved to appoint senior professors as in-charge VCs. Other state universities are likely to appoint in-charge VCs over the next two weeks,” higher education secretary Dheeraj Kumar said.Under the statutes, some universities require approval to appoint in-charge VCs. The appointment is also temporary in nature.The higher education department has sought panels of senior professors for the appointments. The universities have sent lists comprising four to seven professors to govt. The state govt scrutinised the names and conducted background checks to appoint professors with clean records to the posts.Sources said the appointments at the University of Madras and Anna University would also require the Governor’s approval.Earlier, higher education minister P Viswanathan said the state govt and Governor’s office had reached an agreement on the appointments. An announcement is expected in a couple of weeks. Following this, the higher education dept will notify the VC search committees for all state universities. A case is also pending with high court on this issue.Because of a dispute between the Governor and the previous state govt over including a UGC nominee on the VC search committees, state universities have been functioning without regular VCs for up to four years. The absence of VCs has affected academic reforms and the routine functioning of state universities.
