Section of Madras University faculty raise objections to Monday’s CAS promotion interview process

A section of faculty members of the University of Madras (UoM) has raised objections to the scheduled interviews for promotion of select faculty to the post of professor on September 1. At least two letters have been sent to the Vice Chancellor Convener Committee calling to postpone the process, citing violation of the University statutes.

One of the letters from the Professors’ Forum of Madras University expressed concern over what it called ‘deviations’ in promotions of faculty members under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), rotation of headships, and appointments of school chairpersons and non-statutory positions like deans, directors, and coordinators. Quoting statutes, the letter stated that the Vice-Chancellor (VC) is the chairperson of the selection committee for the posts of professor and associate professor and conducting CAS promotions in the absence of a VC was against University rules.

“The convener committee is an interim arrangement to take care of the day-to-day functioning of the University. It is not empowered to recruit or promote faculty at the level of associate professor or professor,” said V. Chandrakumar, president, Professors’ Forum of Madras University, a signatory to the letter. “An academician is a better judge for the selection of another academician to a senior cadre. We request the Chief Minister to intervene,” he added.

The letter also demanded a uniform policy for rotation of headship, appointment of school chairpersons, and senior faculty members to be appointed as deans, directors, coordinators, and as governing body members in affiliate colleges.

Another letter from Chitti. Annapoorna, head of Hindi department, sought the constitution of an inquiry committee to look into “irregularities and malpractices” in the award of promotion to P. Saraswathi, a faculty member of the same department, and the award of PhD guideship to her. The letter recounted previous communications sent by her to the University authorities, bringing various irregularities, including plagiarism, to their notice.

This is the first time that the convener committee is reportedly taking up CAS promotions since the term of the last Vice Chancellor of UoM ended in August 2023.

As a counterargument, a professor said that some faculty members were due for retirement soon, and it would not be fair to deprive them of a promotion if eligible. Besides, they would lose opportunities of being members of committees, or of collaborations abroad.

As things stand, the three-member convener committee would officiate the proposed CAS promotion process.