Latest news with #TamilNaduPrivateCollegesRegulationAct
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Association seeks regulation of fee collection by colleges
Madurai: The All India Students' Association (AISA) submitted a petition to Madurai district collector K J Praveen Kumar on Wednesday, alleging that several govt and govt-aided colleges are collecting fees beyond govt-fixed rates. In the petition, the association said the illegal practice placed an undue financial burden on students and urged the district administration to take action to safeguard students' rights. It said students failing to pay are being denied hall tickets, marksheets, and other certificates, and alleged that some colleges are collecting tuition fees for three years at once. Several students who are eligible for scholarships are forced to pay the full tuition fee, and private colleges affiliated with Madurai Kamaraj University provide no clarity on the additional payments collected, it said and sought a probe into the matter. The association also demanded strict enforcement of the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges Regulation Act and refund of excess fees collected so far to the students. AISA is planning to conduct a protest on Panagal Road in the city soon to voice its demands.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC: Cannot reject appointment of 19 asst professors
Chennai: A collegiate education department's order, rejecting the Loyola College's proposal for the approval of 19 assistant professors, including a librarian, was set aside by Madras high court on Monday. The court also directed the authority to approve the appointments within three months. Justice C Kumarappan passed the order while allowing a plea moved by Loyola College, challenging the order passed by the regional joint director of collegiate education, Chennai, dated Jan 27. According to the petitioner, it submitted proposals in 2019 and 2020, and the appointments were made within the sanctioned strength of 149 teaching and 59 non-teaching posts. It contended that it received sanction for 32 posts under various govt orders dated Jan 8, 2021, and, being a minority institution, it was not required to seek prior govt approval to fill sanctioned posts. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Opposing the plea, the department submitted that the proposals lacked compliance with requirements under the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges Regulation Act, 1976. Recording the submissions, the court noted that previous judicial decisions established that minority institutions are not required to obtain prior permission for filling up sanctioned posts. The court concluded that the reasons provided for rejecting the proposal were not legally sustainable in this case and quashed the order passed by the department.
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Frequent transfers of higher education secretaries in Tamil Nadu a cause of concern
The Higher Education Department Secretary, C. Samayamoorthy, was transferred on Monday (June 23, 2025). He has been replaced by P. Shankar, who becomes the seventh secretary to hold the post in the last two years. In July 2023, D. Karthikeyan was transferred from the department and replaced by A. Karthik. Subsequently, the School Education Secretary held additional charge for a few days. Pradeep Yadav followed, and then K. Gopal was appointed, succeeded by Mr. Samayamoorthy. Now, within months, Mr. Samayamoorthy has been replaced by Mr. Shankar. The frequent change of leadership has left teachers' associations discontented. S. Suresh, president of the Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association, said a secretary should serve for at least a year to effectively address issues. K. Raja, general secretary of the Association of University Teachers, noted that the government has made no progress in streamlining fees charged by aided colleges, despite forming a committee for the purpose four years ago. 'None of the secretaries have made any effort,' he said. 'A secretary should stay at least a year to understand and address the issues.' He pointed out the Higher Education Secretary also serves as the convenor committee chairman for several universities in the absence of appointed Vice-Chancellors. 'In the past five years, none of the Higher Education Secretaries have functioned effectively. Many have held the position, but few have served the department meaningfully.' He added that the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) benefits have not been disbursed since 2021. 'The problem is not a lack of awareness, but lack of execution,' he said. The fee fixation committee, chaired by retired judge K.N. Basha and formed in 2021, has yet to see its recommendations implemented. The government is also yet to release course fee details for the 2025–26 academic year. 'We have submitted several amendments to the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges Regulation Act, but they have not been taken up,' Mr. Raja added. C. Murugan, president of the Madras University Teachers Association, said successive secretaries have failed to secure grants for the university. Retirement benefits for university employees have been pending since 2017. 'Both teaching and non-teaching staff are under pressure,' he said. He also raised concerns about delays in the university's free education scheme. 'Around 900 students have applied. We were asked to conduct online interviews, but the meeting scheduled for Monday was postponed. Students are expected to join by the end of June. It's disheartening to see their hopes dashed,' he said. 'I am a member of the committee, and seeing their dejected faces is painful.'
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Frequent transfers of higher education secretaries i Tamil Nadu cause concern
The Higher Education Department Secretary, C. Samayamoorthy, was transferred on Monday. (June 23, 2025). He has been replaced by P. Shankar, who becomes the seventh secretary to hold the post in the last two years. In July 2023, D. Karthikeyan was transferred from the department and replaced by A. Karthik. Subsequently, the School Education Secretary held additional charge for a few days. Pradeep Yadav followed, and then K. Gopal was appointed, succeeded by Mr. Samayamoorthy. Now, within months, Mr. Samayamoorthy has been replaced by Mr. Shankar. The frequent change of leadership has left teachers' associations discontented. S. Suresh, president of the Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association, said a secretary should serve for at least a year to effectively address issues. K. Raja, general secretary of the Association of University Teachers, noted that the government has made no progress in streamlining fees charged by aided colleges, despite forming a committee for the purpose four years ago. 'None of the secretaries have made any effort,' he said. 'A secretary should stay at least a year to understand and address the issues.' He pointed out the Higher Education Secretary also serves as the convenor committee chairman for several universities in the absence of appointed Vice-Chancellors. 'In the past five years, none of the Higher Education Secretaries have functioned effectively. Many have held the position, but few have served the department meaningfully.' He added that the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) benefits have not been disbursed since 2021. 'The problem is not a lack of awareness, but lack of execution,' he said. The fee fixation committee, chaired by retired judge K.N. Basha and formed in 2021, has yet to see its recommendations implemented. The government is also yet to release course fee details for the 2025–26 academic year. 'We have submitted several amendments to the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges Regulation Act, but they have not been taken up,' Mr. Raja added. C. Murugan, president of the Madras University Teachers Association, said successive secretaries have failed to secure grants for the university. Retirement benefits for university employees have been pending since 2017. 'Both teaching and non-teaching staff are under pressure,' he said. He also raised concerns about delays in the university's free education scheme. 'Around 900 students have applied. We were asked to conduct online interviews, but the meeting scheduled for Monday was postponed. Students are expected to join by the end of June. It's disheartening to see their hopes dashed,' he said. 'I am a member of the committee, and seeing their dejected faces is painful.'
