The Madras High Court has recently addressed a significant issue affecting higher education in Tamil Nadu. Justice B Pugalendhi presided over a case concerning the administrative vacancies in the state’s universities, specifically focusing on the absence of Vice-Chancellors in 14 institutions.
During the proceedings, the Court dismissed a petition seeking the removal of S Muthaiah, the Registrar In-charge of Madurai Kamaraj University. The plea, filed by A Velanganni Joseph against the Principal Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department, was deemed unnecessary after the Court was informed that a regular Registrar was in the process of being appointed.
In the hearing, the University’s senior counsel clarified that Muthaiah was serving temporarily and possessed the necessary qualifications for the role, having been appointed by an appropriate authority. Furthermore, a notification for appointing a permanent Registrar had already been issued on June 2, 2026, with the selection process underway.
However, the Court’s attention was drawn to a broader issue: the lack of Vice-Chancellors in nearly 14 universities across Tamil Nadu. These institutions are currently managed by Registrars In-charge, and significant decisions are being made by Convenor Committees. This situation prompted the Court to request a detailed report from the state government, particularly from the Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department, to explain the vacancies and outline the measures being taken to fill these critical positions.
The Court’s directive also included instructions for the Additional Advocate General to obtain further information from the government regarding the reasons behind these administrative gaps and the progress in appointing Vice-Chancellors. This matter is scheduled for a follow-up hearing in three weeks.
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In this case, the petitioner was represented by Advocate V R Kamalanathan, with assistance from P Baburaj. The State’s representation included Additional Advocate General J Barathan and Special Government Pleader C Jeganathan. Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Isaac Mohan Lal, instructed by Advocate R Ragatheeshkumar, appeared on behalf of the University.
