Madras University Registrar Appointment: Allegations of Discrimination and Procedural Irregularities in Interview; SC/ST Commission Seeks Report
Tamil Nadu: A 54-year-old Associate Professor belonging to the Dalit community, currently serving at a college in Chennai, has leveled serious allegations regarding the selection process adopted for the post of Registrar at the University of Madras (UoM). He claims that irregularities were committed at multiple levels during the interview held in June 2025.
The professor himself was one of the candidates for this position. He expressed astonishment that, despite five out of the nine candidates being Dalits, not a single representative from this community was included in the entire selection committee.
Regarding this matter, the professor approached the Madras High Court in December of last year. He has petitioned the court to direct the university to conduct a fair selection process utilizing a valid and properly constituted committee. Furthermore, he has demanded that the appointment be made strictly on the basis of merit, while also ensuring that his own candidature is duly considered.
Applications for the post of Registrar were invited in May of last year, as the then-Registrar, S. Elumalai, was scheduled to step down from his position in June. Initially, a total of 15 individuals applied; of these, four were declared ineligible, and two candidates failed to appear for the interview. Consequently, a total of nine candidates appeared for the interview on June 24.
The Associate Professor—who possesses over 24 years of experience in the fields of teaching and research—stated in an interview that the majority of the candidates did not perceive the process as fair. He asserted that not everyone was accorded equal opportunities and that the entire exercise appeared to be nothing more than a mere eyewash. He alleged that it seemed as though the selection committee had already pre-determined the current Registrar, Rita John, as the chosen candidate for the post.
Another candidate—a 55-year-old professor from Madras University itself who appeared for the interview—also raised questions regarding the allocation of time during the process. He stated that while all other candidates were allotted only 10 to 15 minutes, the incumbent Registrar was evaluated for a full 46 minutes. He further alleged that Rita John already shared a close acquaintance with several members of the committee.
According to the rules, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) is supposed to preside over this interview. In the VC’s absence, this responsibility typically falls to a Syndicate Committee constituted under the Secretary of the Higher Education Department. However, in this instance, the responsibility was entrusted to J. Innocent Divya—the then Commissioner of the Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE)—a move that casts a shadow of doubt over the entire process.
According to departmental sources, Divya was appointed by the former Higher Education Secretary, C. Samayamoorthy. Samayamoorthy was transferred on June 23, and the interviews were scheduled for the very next day, June 24. Candidates are now questioning why the interviews were conducted with such haste—specifically, before the new Secretary, P. Shankar, could assume charge.
The professor further questioned why the process was not deferred until the arrival of the new Secretary, Shankar, given that there is no provision allowing anyone other than the designated selection committee members to conduct such proceedings. Notably, the former Secretary, Samayamoorthy himself, had appeared for an interview for the post of Registrar at Bharathiar University just one week prior to the interviews held at the University of Madras.
Candidates have also expressed strong objections regarding the lack of Dalit representation within the committee. They argue that, in accordance with UGC regulations, representation from the Dalit community is mandatory within such committees and cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
In light of this, a member has lodged a complaint regarding these irregularities with the SC/ST Commission. Consequently, the Commission has issued stern directives to the Higher Education Department, mandating the submission of a comprehensive report on the entire interview process by the first week of April.
Responding to these allegations, a senior administrative official at the University of Madras presented the institution’s stance. He asserted that the interviews were conducted in a completely impartial manner and that the position was awarded strictly on the basis of merit. The official clarified that this appointment does not involve any form of bribery, pressure, or irregularity.
The official also informed that, since assuming the post of Registrar, Rita John has relinquished her previous positions as a Syndicate member and Head of the Department (HoD) of Theoretical Physics.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy: Hindi News