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Time of India
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
AU ghost faculty: NGO holds stir alleging govt inaction
Chennai: More than a year after Arappor Iyakkam exposed a major scam involving duplicate faculty appointments in Anna University-affiliated colleges, the NGO conducted a symbolic protest on Saturday, criticizing the state govt's alleged inaction and delay in taking punitive measures. Volunteers of the organisation lit candles and observed a moment of silence, condemning the three-member committee formed to probe the scam for failing to release a report or act against those involved. "The committee was set up two days after we exposed the scam, and the govt ordered that a detailed report be submitted within a week. However, even after a year passed, the report was not released, nor was any action taken against those responsible," said Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor, Arappor Iyakkam. The scam involved 353 ghost faculty members who were found employed at the same time in several engineering colleges, affiliated with Anna University , in the academic year 2023–24. According to the NGO, the colleges presented fake or temporary staff during inspections, often paying individuals to pose as faculty. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "The fact that when the committee visited the colleges for inquiry, people were hired to impersonate teachers shows the brazenness of the scam. It's the students who suffer in the end," said M Radhakrishnan, another member of the NGO. The organization also accused the Anna University of shielding errant officials. It also questioned Governor RN Ravi for allegedly blocking an investigation against former vice chancellor R Velraj. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Arappor Iyakkam asks CM to terminate paddy transportation tenders
Arappor Iyakkam has urged Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and other concerned authorities to terminate the tender for transportation and movement of paddy for Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC). In a representation, the organisation demanded that the tender contract, filled with illegalities to unjustly enrich the contractor, be terminated immediately so that crores of peoples' tax money is saved. Its convenor, Jayaram Venkatesan, said that the organisation had submitted a complaint in March to the investigating agencies and concerned authorities but to no avail. The organisation alleged that corruption to the tune of Rs. 992 crore and unjust enrichment of a select set of firms. 'We are writing this representation to you all to request/ demand that the tender contract filled with illegalities to unjustly enrich the contractor be terminated immediately so that hundreds of crores of our tax money is saved. It must be noted that in the tender notice, period for the paddy transportation tender was mentioned as June 2023 to June 2025. However, when the contract was awarded in July 2024, the work order was issued until June 2026 by which they are violating the period mentioned in the tender notice. This is illegal and therefore, as per the tender notice, the tender must end in June 2025, he added. In spite of pointing out the grave illegalities, the government has not been acting on the complaint to terminate the contract, recover the lost money, blacklist the contractors, take action on public servants responsible involved in illegal and collusive bidding leading to massive corruption. The Corporation, over the last 10 years, has been involved in scams in favour of one particular group including the Rs. 2028 crore corruption in procurement of dhal, sugar and palmolein between 2016 to 2021.
