Bharathiar University Teachers Challenge Outsider Appointment as Arts Dean
The Bharathiar University Teachers’ Association staged a sit-in to protest the selection of a Management professor to lead the Faculty of Arts. Educators argue the move bypasses seniority and violates established academic norms.
Conflict Over Deanship Criteria and Seniority
Faculty members at Bharathiar University launched an immediate protest on Monday, occupying the lobby area outside the Registrar’s Chamber. The Bharathiar University Teachers’ Association (BHUTA) is challenging the administration's decision to appoint a faculty member from Management Studies as the Dean for the Faculty of Arts. BHUTA President K. Vasanth characterized the selection as an act of favoritism, noting that the protest began after Registrar R. Rajavel initially declined to meet with a representative delegation.
The Age Limit Dispute
The administration defended the appointment by citing technical limitations regarding retirement ages. Registrar R. Rajavel stated that P. Nagaraj, the senior-most professor in the Arts discipline and Head of the English Department, was disqualified because he could not complete a full three-year term before turning 58. While Prof. Nagaraj is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2028, BHUTA leaders have challenged the registrar to produce the specific Acts and Statutes that mandate this age-based eligibility threshold.
Implications for Institutional Integrity
In a formal representation submitted to the Secretary of Higher Education, Prof. Nagaraj argued that placing a faculty member outside the core discipline violates conventional administrative practices. He contended that the move ignores established seniority and rotation rules. According to Prof. Nagaraj, the current appointment sets an improper precedent that could damage equity across different departments and weaken the university’s regulatory framework.
Broader Faculty Grievances
Beyond the leadership dispute, the sit-in highlighted several systemic issues within the institution:
- Significant delays in resolving grievances related to the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS).
- Outstanding administrative issues that remain unaddressed by university officials.
- Demands for increased transparency in applying university statutes and seniority criteria.
Source: The Hindu — Home
