CHENNAI: Governor Banwarilal Purohit has called the three candidates shortlisted for Anna University vice-chancellor's post for an interview on Thursday. The vice-chancellor search panel headed by Justice V.S. Sirpurkar interviewed eight candidates on Saturday and handed over a list of three names to the Governor on the same day.
“The search panel has shortlisted UGC former vice-chairman H. Devaraj, M.K. Surappa from IISc, Bangalore, and S. Ponnusamy, retired professor of Mathematics, IIT Madras, for the VC's post. These candidates will be personally interviewed by the Governor on Thursday,” sources said.
“Though all three candidates are highly qualified and equally deserve the post, the odds are in favour of professor S. Ponnusamy. Devaraj is also a serious contender for the post,” sources added.
Some unconfirmed reports spread in the university on Wednesday, saying new vice-chancellor of the university was already appointed. However, when enquired one of the shortlisted candidates said the meeting with the Governor was scheduled on Thursday only.
“It is very likely that the new vice-chancellor for the university will be appointed on Thursday,” sources confirmed. Despite remaining headless for nearly two years, Anna University has ranked as the fourth best university in the country and tenth in the overall category of the NIRF ranking which was released on Tuesday.
The search panel headed by Justice V.S. Sirpurkar is the third panel constituted to shortlist the V-C candidates. The first search panel was headed by Tamil Nadu Open University Vice-Chancellor M. Bhaskaran and its recommendation of three names was rejected by the then Governor CH. Vidhyasagar Rao.
He also formed new V-C search panel headed by former Chief Justice of India Justice R.M. Lodha. Following the litigation opposing the induction of one of the search committee members, Justice Lodha has resigned from the committee. Governor Banwarilal Purohit has formed a new search committee headed by Justice V.S. Sirpurkar, retired judge, Supreme Court of India. The panel also has retired IAS officer N. Sundaradevan and IIT Madras Professor R. Gnanamoorthy as other members.
