TN to bring Annamalai varsity under its control

The government has introduced a Bill to bring Chidambaram-based Annamalai University under its control. Minister for higher education P Palaniappan introduced the Annamalai University Bill 2013 in the Assembly to bring the Annamalai University Act 1928 on a par with laws governing other universities in the sate and to repeal the Tamil Nadu Act I of 1929.

The development comes at a time when the government has decided to suspend vice chancellor M Ramanathan following financial irregularities at the 84-year-old university, which was founded by Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar at Chidambaram.

It was alleged that the funds were diverted, appointments were made in excess and provident fund money was not deposited.

In November 2012 the staff launched a demonstration following fears of retrenchment and pay cut. The university, which has been receiving annual grants from the state, was facing an "unprecedented" financial crisis due to excess staffing, transfer of funds and investment of funds for other purposes and ignoring statutory obligations, alleged the staff association.

The government has constituted a Special Local Fund auditing team to assess the irregularities and a high-level committee to analyse the audit report, the Bill said.