Financial Irregularities: Annamalai University VC Suspended

INN published a news report "Irregularities Unearthed At Annamalai University" on March 14, 2013 in these columns. The authorities and Tamilnadu government has ordered a high level enquiry an this issue and result: issued orders of suspension of Annamalai University Vice Chancellor and other officers and sacked many more responsible officers. 

Following financial irregularities at the 84-year-old Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah suspended its vice-chancellor M Ramanathan. The action comes two days after the state government appointed IAS officer Shiv Das Meena as the university administrator. 

A special audit team had found that university funds were diverted, appointments were made in excess and provident fund money was not deposited. 

The lapses occurred due to maladministration and lack of proper control over the functioning of the university, read the government order signed by the governor. "As principal executive officer of the university, vested with various powers including the power to appoint clerical and other staff, the vice- chancellor is responsible for proper functioning of the university. 

It has become necessary to investigate into the matter in detail, from all angles and in particular with respect to the working of the institution, persons responsible for the maladministration and the role played by you as the vice-chancellor," read the order. 

The suspension will come into effect immediately and will stay till further orders. 

The sate government had constituted a special audit team under Section 28 of the Annamalai Universtiy Act, 1928 to assess the financial and other irregularities in the university. After inspection, the team submitted its report to the government, in which it mentioned about diversion of funds running to several crores of rupees and misappropriation of funds.