The Hindu : 2 suspended for `irregularities' in distance education programme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 14, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

2 suspended for `irregularities' in distance education programme

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, FEB. 13. The Madurai Kamaraj University will hold an investigation into "admission irregularities" in the distance education programme.

The university today placed under suspension two Directorate of Distance Education employees for their alleged involvement in misappropriation of funds, allowing around 200 students to appear for third year examinations directly without paying fees. The irregularity came to light when a student complained that he did not receive the mark sheet.

A decision on suspension was taken at a Syndicate meeting held here on Wednesday, the Vice-Chancellor, P. K. Ponnuswamy, told newspersons here. A three-member Syndicate committee conducted the investigation and looked into the `financial loss', to the tune of Rs. 5 lakhs. The students, of the Mumbai Centre, were allowed to write the examinations even though they did not remit the fees. N. K. Mariappan (Superintendent) and R. Periyannan (assistant), suspended employees, were working in the `other States section'.

However, he said that the entire system of admission had been streamlined in the past two years and there was nothing to worry about.

The investigation committee, which comprised Navaneethakrishnan, Ajmal Khan and G. Thiruvasagam, found prima facie evidence. A five-member committee was formed to look into a request by affiliated colleges to reduce the affiliation fees for starting new courses and other fees. The issue was taken up for discussion following a plea by principals to rationalise the affiliation fees "as they felt that they were on the higher side compared to other universities".

The committee, comprising the Directorate of Collegiate Education, Syndicate members, K. S. Gopalakrishnan, G. Thiruvasagam, R. Lakshmipathi and Lawrence Amalraj, would submit its recommendations soon.

The meeting decided to allocate Rs.15 lakhs for constructing a building. The estimated loss in the recent fire accident in the Chemistry department was Rs.40 lakhs, he informed.

An `academic audit committee' was formed to prepare a format to assess the employees and workload requirements. The process of strengthening teaching staff was being taken up.

Another committee was constituted to present a report on non-teaching staff and administration issues.

The Syndicate decided to follow the upper age limit of 62 years for superannuation in case of principals of self-financing colleges as per a Supreme Court order.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu