Certificate verification of 254 assistant professors ordered

CHENNAI: In a rigid observation regarding the matters of teaching staff appointments, the Madras High Court held that there should be no compromise in the matter of educational qualifications of appointees. The court further directed the Directorate of Collegiate Education to summon 254 assistant professors of Pachaiyappa’s Education Trust Board for the process of verifying their educational qualifications and certificates.

Justice SM Subramaniam passed the direction on a batch of petitions alleging that an erstwhile administrator of the board found that 152 out of 254 assistant professors recruited in the years 2013, 2014, and 2015 are not possessing the requisite qualification as per the recruitment notification.

Recording the submissions, the judge held that the erstwhile administrator, who is the ‘judge of the Madras HC cannot be brushed aside.’

“It requires serious consideration as it involves procedures to be adopted for selection and appointment to the post of Assistant Professors, which is of paramount importance,” Justice Subramaniam held.

He further stated that the nobility involved in educational institutions under no circumstances be compromised or neutralised by any authority.

“Sections 15 and 16 of the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges (Regulation) Act, 1976, which contemplates that no person who does not possess the qualifications specified under Section 15 shall be appointed as a teacher or other employees in any private college,” the judge added.

The court directed the Director of Collegiate Education to constitute a required number of teams of qualified officials for conducting certificate verification for 254 appointed candidates by the Pachaiyappas Trust Board.

“Complete the process by conducting thorough verification regarding the educational and other qualifications required for appointment to the post of Assistant Professor and submit a report before this court on November 14,” the Madras HC ordered.