Tamil Nadu Education Minister denies applying pressure for VC appointment

Chennai: Responding to the controversy surrounding the appointment of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) Vice Chancellor, higher education minister K.P. Anbalagan on Wednesday denied giving any pressure to the VC search committee.

Two members of the MKU VC search panel Harish L. Mehta and G. Ramakrishnan on Tuesday told High Court that the current vice-chancellor P.P. Chellathurai doesn’t have the qualification and they were compelled to give consent to include his name as ‘he was the government’s choice.’

While speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference here, Anbalagan said, “The MKU VC search panel members are giving the wrong information. The committee has shortlisted three names independently and submitted it to the Governor. We did not give any pressure to the committee.”

“The Governor invited all the three shortlisted candidates and after interviewing them he appointed a suitable candidate as vice-chancellor,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of having many vacant seats in the top engineering after medical counselling, “We can’t do anything about it. We cannot further delay the engineering admissions as we have to follow the court order. That’s why we have announced online counselling will be held from next year.”

On common engineering entrance exam, he said, “MHRD has said there will not be a common entrance exam for engineering courses from next year.”