Latest news with #PeriyarUniversity
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Re-employment granted to HOD at Periyar University violating norms, allege professors
COIMBATORE: Breaking away from its Act and Statutes, the academic year for 2025-26 at Periyar University starts on June 30, instead of July 1. Professors from the university have alleged that this decision favours the head of the Department of Management Studies, for illegal re-employment for 2025-26. A syndicate meeting, chaired by former Vice-Chancellor (V-C) R Jagannathan, was held on March 3, 2025. According to the syndicate minutes, accessed by TNIE, the retirement age for university teachers is 60. According to the minutes of the meeting, V R Palanivelu, head of the Department of Management Studies will turn 60 on June 14, 2025, and therefore, will superannuate on June 30, 2025. The academic year runs from June 1 to March 31. Since his retirement falls within this academic year, he is eligible for re-employment until March 31, 2026. After the syndicate meeting, the university issued a vacation declaration on April 27, from May 2 to June 30. But the university's Act and Statutes in 'Holidays and Vacations' paragraph states that full-time teachers of the university shall be entitled to a summer vacation of two months, from May 1 to June 30 (both days inclusive). Besides, it noted that the higher education department secretary, on May 22, informed registrars that the reopening date would be July 1.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
AUT opposes re-employment of preferred teachers in Periyar University
The Association of University Teachers (AUT) Tamil Nadu demanded not to give re-employment to preferred teachers in Periyar University and immediately stop the approval given to an agenda by the past administration of the university. In the 116th meeting of the Syndicate on November 22, 2024, Periyar University granted re-employment for nine months till March 31, 2026, to V.R. Palanivelu, Professor of the Department of Management, who is superannuating on June 14, 2025. The faculty members alleged that this re-employment would incur an additional financial loss to the tune of ₹26.67 lakh to the university in the academic year 2025-26. Re-employment should be given only to the teachers, who are retiring in the middle of an academic year. But the past university administration allegedly gave re-employment to preferred teachers and denied re-employment for a few. AUT general secretary, K. Raja, said that granting re-employment to a few preferred teachers was a violation of the rules. The Registrar in-charge, vide his circular dated April 23, 2025, declared that the university was on vacation from May 3 to June 29 and reopens on June 30, 2025. As per Chapter VIII, Section 12(2) of the University Statutes, full-time teachers of the university shall be entitled to a summer vacation of two months from May 1 to June 30 (both days inclusive) and all gazetted holidays. The university, in its 102nd syndicate meeting held on January 11, 2019, adopted in writing that the academic year of Periyar University is to be from July 1 to April 30, with May and June being the vacation in consonance with the general rule followed by the State universities, Mr. Raja added. Stating that few teachers were denied re-employment at Periyar University, Mr. Raja said N. Rajendhiran, former HoD of Management Studies, was relieved from service, denying re-employment as he attained superannuation in June 2018. This denial was done based upon an earlier denial of re-employment to S. Murugesh, former HoD of Botany, as he attained superannuation in June 2017. As per the resolution of the Syndicate, re-employment was to be granted only to those teachers retiring on or after July 1 of each academic year. Contrasting this, the university granted re-employment (July 1, 2022, to May 2023) to P. Kumaradhas, HoD, Physics, who attained superannuation in June 2022. Not only Mr. Kumaradhas, but also professors S. Anbazhagan and C. Selvaraj were granted re-employment in July 2023 and at the same time, A. Muthusamy, a Mathematics Department professor, was denied re-employment and was relieved from service on June 30, 2024. Now the university granted re-employment for Mr. Palanivelu, who is retiring on June 14, 2025, Mr. Raja added. Stating that teachers who raised their voices against these illegalities were crushed by the university, Mr. Raja said that as assistant professor K. Premkumar, in his capacity as the then general secretary of the Periyar University Teachers' Association, drew the attention of the ex-officio members of the Syndicate to this gross violation for providing re-employment to Mr. Kumaradhas, he was vindictively suspended and subsequently terminated from service. The AUT demands to immediately revoke and annul the vindictive termination of Mr. Premkumar and reinstate him and immediately stop the Syndicate approval granted to the re-employment of Mr. Palanivelu. The Higher Education department should conduct an on-the-spot inquiry into the illegal re-employment granted to professors Kumaradhas, Anbazhagan, and Selvaraj and the denial of the same to professors Rajendhiran and Muthusamy and initiate steps to recover the financial loss of ₹86.42 lakh by granting re-employment to these three professors. Likewise, punitive action should be taken on the perpetrators of these conscious violations, Mr. Raja added.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu govt forms three-member committee to oversee Periyar University operations
COIMBATORE: The state government has constituted a three-member administrative committee to oversee the operations of Periyar University in Salem, following the retirement of Vice-Chancellor Prof Jegannathan. The decision was made after a special meeting of the university's syndicate committee, held in response to the leadership vacuum created by the end of Prof Jegannathan's extended term on May 19. The newly-formed committee is headed by E Sundaravalli, director of Collegiate Education, who will function as the in-charge vice-chancellor. Prof Subramani, director of the Kalaignar Research Centre, and Dr Jayanthi, principal of Shakti Kailash Women's College, are part of the panel. It may be noted that Prof Jegannathan had appointed Dr T Periasamy, head of the Tamil department as the in-charge V-C, without consulting the university syndicate a few days ago.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Periyar University announces re-exam of BA English paper at the eleventh hour
SALEM: Periyar University announced on Monday that it will conduct a re-examination of the "English Literature of Competitive Examinations", an elective paper for third-year students of affiliated colleges on Tuesday (May 27). The action follows the use of questions from out of syllabus in the initial examination held on May 10. The announcement just on the eve of the re-exam is set to inconvenience examinees who are on vacation, with several likely to miss it. Students currently on vacation are compelled to return to college and retake the exam with insufficient preparation time. In a circular dated on Saturday, Controller (In-charge) P Viswanathamurthi said that the English Literature of Competitive Examinations paper was held on May 10. "As requested by members of the Board of Studies for the undergraduate English department at a meeting held on May 23, a re-exam of the English Literature of Competitive Examinations paper will be conducted on Tuesday morning," he said. Speaking to TNIE, an assistant professor at a government arts and science college in Salem explained the reason for the re-examination, stating that the previous exam had been conducted for 75 marks, with multiple-choice questions across parts A, B, and C.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Periyar varsity's former V-C hands over charge, sparks new row
COIMBATORE: Controversy erupted at the Periyar University in Salem after outgoing Vice-Chancellor R Jagannathan handed over charge to Dr T Periasamy, head of the Tamil department, without consulting the university's syndicate committee. Jagannathan, whose term ended on Monday, is facing multiple allegations and ongoing investigations. In light of this, his decision to appoint Dr Periasamy as interim V-C, flouting protocol, has drawn sharp criticism from the academic community. 'A retiring V-C is expected to convene a syndicate meeting and form a panel to shortlist candidates for the position. But Jagannathan did not consult anyone,' said a senior professor from the university, on the condition of anonymity. Dr T Periasamy's appointment has raised eyebrows also due to the controversies surrounding him. Periasamy is reportedly associated with RSS groups, and is currently under investigation by the DVAC. A case against him is also pending in the Madras High Court. 'This is a clear violation of university norms and democratic processes. Appointing someone who is under a cloud undermines the credibility of the institution,' said another professor.
