‘SC professors not elevated as HoDs at MKU’

Madurai Scheduled Caste professors allege denied opportunity to serve as Heads of Departments at Madurai Kamaraj University. Discriminatory practices in appointing professors on caste line discussed at Academic Council meeting. Financial crisis, Naan Mudhalvan Scheme and syllabi confusion discussed. Committee proposed to represent university to State govt. Additional examiners for evaluating Ph.D theses to burden guides. Problems in Naam Mudhalvan Scheme, confusion in new syllabi, fees for mistakes of university admin discussed. Condolence resolution passed for N. Sankaraiah and Chellapandi.

Scheduled Caste professors were denied opportunity to serve as Heads of Departments at Madurai Kamaraj University, alleged a professor at the Academic Council meeting here held on Wednesday.

“Many eligible professors were earlier denied position of HoDs by the university just because of the castes. At the same time, five professors of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) were elevated as HODs,” said Professor and Head of the Department of Youth Welfare Studies A. Velanganni Joseph.

Discrimination in appointing professors on caste line should not be practised as the university and the government professed equality, he said.

The council meeting, which was chaired by Vice-Chancellor J. Kumar discussed various issues, including the university’s financial crisis, problems in Naan Mudhalvan Scheme and confusion in finalising syllabi for the current academic year.

One of the council members, K. Sadasivam, Head, Department of Environmental Economics, stressed the need for constitution of a committee to discuss the financial crisis and represent the university to the State government.

However, Mr. Joseph said constitution of a committee would create unnecessary confusion. “Conventionally, the VC who is responsible for managing university funds should take the responsibility to represent to the government,” he added.

Many senior professors said assigning additional examiners for evaluating Ph.D theses to the viva voce board would burden the guides.