Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, recently revealed significant irregularities within private engineering colleges affiliated with Anna University in Tamil Nadu. It was discovered that approximately 352 full-time faculty members are simultaneously employed by multiple colleges, ranging from 2 to 11 institutions each. As a result, Arappor Iyakkam has formally complained to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and called for an investigation into these malpractices.
It’s important to note that each engineering college must meet specific criteria to obtain affiliation/accreditation from Anna University and the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). These criteria include infrastructure, laboratory facilities, and an adequate number of qualified faculty members. Colleges declare compliance with these criteria, verified through inspections conducted by Anna University’s Center for Affiliation of Institutions and AICTE before approvals are granted. The approval process also determines the permissible intake of students for each course based on these factors. This stringent process is essential to maintain educational quality, as inadequate infrastructure and qualified faculty directly impact students’ education.
Arappor Iyakkam utilized data from Anna University’s Center for Affiliation of Institutions (CAI) and information obtained through RTI requests regarding inspections. Analysis of this data reveals that in the academic year 2023-24, approximately 353 individuals concurrently served as full-time faculty members across multiple engineering colleges. Matching photographs, dates of birth, and educational qualifications of these faculty members corroborated this finding.
Some professors are listed as faculty members in as many as 11 different engineering colleges for the specified academic year. Anna University’s CAI has conducted visits to these colleges and confirmed the presence of these professors as full-time faculty members concurrently at multiple institutions. This situation underscores the extent of collusion and its profound implications. For instance, Dr. S. Marichamy, born on 3rd June 1980, is reported to be working as a full-time faculty member in all 11 colleges listed below:
- Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Engineering College (Autonomous), Perambalur
- M R K Institute of Technology, Cuddalore
- A K T Memorial College of Engineering and Technology, Kallakurichi
- A R J College of Engineering and Technology, Tiruvarur
- Angel College of Engineering and Technology, Tiruppur
- Fatima Michael College of Engineering and Technology, Madurai
- Kathir College of Engineering, Coimbatore
- Meenakshi College of Engineering, Chennai
- Renganayagi Varatharaj College of Engineering, Virudhunagar
- RRASE College of Engineering, Kancheepuram
- Sri Muthukumaran Institute of Technology, Kancheepuram
There are reports of 353 individuals holding positions in 972 different colleges. Among these, 175 individuals hold PhDs in Engineering, indicating that this malpractice extends beyond entry-level lecturers to include professors. Engineering colleges depend on qualified professors to clearly understand engineering concepts to students. However, many colleges allegedly engage in widespread fraudulent activities instead of hiring such qualified individuals full-time to avoid salary expenses. They falsely portray the availability of these “ghost” professors who exist only on paper, deceiving innocent parents and students who seek quality education and end up paying substantial sums under false pretences.
யார் இந்த பேராசிரியர்கள்? எந்த கல்லூரிகளில் எல்லாம் இவர்கள் வேலை செய்கிறார்கள்? விவரங்களுக்கு – https://t.co/BYxu7qsmXW
தமிழ்நாடு அரசும், தமிழ்நாடு ஆளுநரும் இந்த மோசடியை தடுக்க என்ன செய்ய போகிறார்கள்?#Arappor #ProfessorHeist @mkstalin @KPonmudiMLA @rajbhavan_tn @CMOTamilnadu… pic.twitter.com/wxEMFZWeVN
— Arappor Iyakkam (@Arappor) July 23, 2024
Arappor Iyakkam alleges collusion among several colleges, professors, and officials from Anna University and AICTE in falsifying the presence of qualified faculty members, thereby compromising the quality of education. They condemn this as a complete breach of trust, fraud, and cheating by engineering colleges, professors, and public officials.
Therefore, Arappor Iyakkam demands an immediate investigation into the fraud and malpractice perpetrated by those complicit in this scheme. They call for scrutiny of the roles played by members of the Inspection Committee and Standing Committee of Anna University who neglected their oversight responsibilities, the Vice-Chancellor who approved affiliation for the fraudulent colleges, members of the Expert Visit Committee of AICTE who failed to monitor compliance with AICTE norms. Additionally, Arappor Iyakkam recommends cancelling the affiliation of the colleges involved in the fraud as per section 7.9 of CAI Statutes and Regulations 2004 (Amended in 2007), debar faculty members involved from working in any AICTE-accredited or Anna University-affiliated colleges and initiate both criminal and departmental actions against all public servants involved in the scam.
படித்து முடித்து பேராசிரியர் வேலைக்கு ஆயிரக்கணக்கானவர்கள் காத்திருக்கும் நிலையில் ஒரே பேராசிரியர் பெயரை 11 கல்லூரிகள் பயன்படுத்தியதை கண்டும் காணாமல் இருக்கும் பல்கலைக்கழக ஆய்வுக்குழுவின் தவறுக்கு யார் பொறுப்பேற்க போகிறார்கள்?
அமைச்சரா? ஆளுநரா?Complaint and Evidence -… pic.twitter.com/MSMpxOr1Oc
— Arappor Iyakkam (@Arappor) July 23, 2024
(With inputs from Arappor Iyakkam)
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