Case made for appointment of an IAS officer as interim Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University

Given the rather complex internal politics between administration and faculty; amongst permanent and non-permanent non-teaching staff; and between teaching and non-teaching staff, leave alone caste-based polarisation amongst faculty themselves, academics favour appointment of an officer of IAS (Indian Administrative Service) cadre to set right things in Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, in the interests of the student community.

A section of the faculty is miffed with the administration over the apparent delay in operationalising Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions. However, it is learnt from administrative circles that the Higher Education Department has reservations on clearing CAS promotions on the faculty who were appointed by former Vice-Chancellor A. Ganapathy, who was arrested during 2018 for alleged irregularities in recruiting faculty members during 2016.

Also, a section of the faculty appointed for a specific tenure under five-year plan-period schemes was still continuing in service, university sources said.