Justice N Anand Venkatesh noted that if the State Government does not take steps to remedy the situation, it would affect higher education in the State, which includes students, teachers, staff, and retired employees.

“If the State Government does not take immediate steps to set right this anomaly, it will directly impact the higher education in Tamil Nadu which includes the students, staff, teachers and retired employees of various Colleges. This situation has to be remedied and this Court has to necessarily take Judicial notice of the prevailing situation,” the court said.

The court noted that the universities were currently being run by a Convenor Committee appointed by the Government, headed by an IAS officer. The court remarked that the convenor committee could only be a temporary arrangement and it would be impossible for the committee to run and administer the University and colleges. The court also noted that the committees were continuing to run the Universities for more than 3 to 4 years, which would impact the functioning of the institutes.

“The Convenor Committee headed by the IAS Officer, at the best can only be a temporary arrangement and it is virtually impossible for this Committee to run the Universities and administer the Colleges falling under the purview of those Universities. This status is continuing for more than 3 to 4 years and it has a direct impart on the functioning of the Educational Institutions,” the court observed.

The court was hearing an application filed by a group of persons in connection with disbursement of pension to those eligible in Annamalai University.

When the cases were taken up, the petitioners informed the court that there was a practical difficulty being faced by the Registrar since the University does not have a Vice Chancellor and a Syndicate and it was being run by a Convenor Committee appointed by the Government. The petitioners thus submitted that there was an absolute lack of communication.

The court observed that the Madurai Bench of the High Court had previously flagged the issue of 14 universities in the State functioning without regular Vice Chancellors.

The judge noted that he had previously dealt with a similar issue relating to Madras University where almost 500 retired persons were waiting for final settlement for years. The court also noted there was a similar issue relating to Anna University and the contempt petitions were pending.

In the present case, the court noted that the Registrar of the University was attempting to get particulars regarding the amount settled for eligible persons. The court noted that the issue was being postponed since the Registrar had to get the concurrence of the Convenor Committee.

Noting the delay in appointment of VCs in universities across the State, the court suo motu impleaded the Government of Tamil Nadu, represented by the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department.

The court also requested the Advocate General to list out the further course of action to be taken by the State Government to restore normalcy in the functioning of the 14 universities which do not have a Vice Chancellor or Syndicate for the last 3 to 4 years.

Counsel for Applicants: Mr. Singaravelan Senior Counsel for Mr. M. Muruganantham

Counsel for Respondents: Mr. S. Nambi Arooran for M/s. Ajmal Associates