Chennai: The nearly two-year tenure of professor A.Ganapathy as vice-chancellor of Bharathiar University, marred by allegations of irregularities and corruption in recruitments, finally culminated in his arrest on Saturday.
The former head of biotechnology department of Bharathidasan University assumed charge of the vice-chancellor of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore on March 6, 2016. A noted academician who has produced 32 PhD and 42 M.Phil. scholars and published 146 research articles in international journals, he had raised the hope of the academicians that the university will soon rise to new heights under his tenure.
His research papers on tissue culture and genetic engineering of blackgram, cowpea and cucumber have received many international appreciations and awards.
But his tenure was marred by allegations of irregularities in recruiting the faculty members. As soon as the recruitment process for recruiting 80 faculty members started in July 2016, doubts of irregularities surfaced as the administration tried to close the applications well before the scheduled date. Following the controversy, it was extended.
The state government had initiated a vigilance enquiry in April last year which culminated in his arrest.
A section of professors said that the corruption in vice-chancellors' appointment has affected the recruitment in universities in a bad way and Ganapathy's case is the perfect example of how the once renowned researcher in biotechnology, now has allegedly been reduced to a corrupt administrator.
Timeline
March 6, 2016: Professor A.Ganapathy took charge as Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University
July 14, 2016: The university has released advertisement to fill 80 assistant professor posts in the university departments and constituent colleges
August 10, 2016: There were allegations that the university administration has blocked the website well before the closing date to prevent more candidates applying for the job. After the issue, the varsity has extended the last date to August 21
November 18, 2016: The VC's office received a fax message from the higher education department instructing it not to proceed with the appointments.
November 22, 2016: The syndicate meeting was convened to ratify the appointments despite the instructions from then higher education secretary A.Karthik asking the university authorities not to ratify the appointments. But, Mr Ganapathy has allegedly switched off his mobile phone and the fax machine
November 28, 2016: In the wake of irregularities in the recruitment of 80 faculty members in Bharathiar University, Registrar (in-charge) P S Mohan was relieved of his duties. The VC had blamed P.S. Mohan, for not informing him of the secretary's note
April 28, 2017: The state government has initiated a vigilance inquiry into the alleged irregularities committed by A. Ganapathy, Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University.
February 3, 2018 A.Ganapathy, Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University was arrested by DVAC for accepting the bribe from a candidate for appointment to the post of assistant professor.
