Anna university issues showcause notice to 295 engineering colleges

CHENNAI: After a row over the duplication of faculty members in affiliated colleges, Anna University on Saturday issued showcause notices to 295 engineering colleges seeking explanation about how the duplication had continued for the last two academic years. The university took tough stand on the issue after a direction from Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi, sources said.

The state’s premier technical university also asked the colleges to provide original Aadhaar number and PAN cards with self-attested copy of the the faculty members who were also shown as faculty members of other colleges.

"In case you cannot prove that you have entered the correct details and produce relevant documents to the University, the management is directed to explain why action should not be initiated against the college to withdraw the affiliation for all the programmes conducted in your college for the current academic year 2024-25," the notice issued by the university said.

It sought explanation within a period of seven days failing which it will be construed that the management has no explanation to offer. “The university is at liberty to take “suo-motu” action to disaffiliate all the programmes conducted in your college for the academic year 2024-25,” it further said.

“We have issued notices to 292 colleges for the 2023-24 academic year and 295 colleges for the 2024-25 academic year,” Anna University vice-chancellor R Velraj said. “Around 100 colleges have just one faculty member with multiple entries. We have sought explanation to know where these faculty members employed. Based on the explanation, we will initiate action,” he added.

The university is also thinking of linking Aadhaar card details with the govt website to avoid the duplication in future.

It was Arappor Iyakkam, the anti-corruption NGO, that has blown the lid off the duplication after finding that 353 individuals had been simultaneously employed in multiple engineering colleges for the 2023-24 academic year.

Following the expose, the university launched an internal probe and found that 184 individuals had given their names for multiple engineering colleges for 2023-24. Further, it also found that 211 faculty members filled more than 2000 faculty positions for 2024-25.

The first round of online general counselling for engineering admissions is scheduled to begin on Monday. Anna University's action against the colleges involved in the duplication of faculty members may have an impact in the choices of engineering colleges, professors said. More than two lakh students will take part in the engineering counselling during which 1.79 lakh seats will be available in 433 engineering colleges across the state.


Explore the yearly horoscope 2025 for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these New Year wishes, messages and quotes.