Tamil Nadu Fills 112 Grade II Principal Posts in One Sweep, a First: Minister

Tamil Nadu has appointed 112 Grade II principals to government arts and science colleges in a single round, a move Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan described as unprecedented in the State. The posts were filled without interruptions, recommendations or corruption of any kind, he said, speaking to reporters in Chennai on Saturday after presenting medals and certificates at the 47th Graduation Day of Madras Christian College.

Describing the exercise as a record, the Minister said recruitment to Grade I principal posts was also progressing. Of the 25 vacancies in that category, 10 have already been filled, he added.

Appointments of full-time principals in government arts and science colleges had been pending for roughly two years. A seniority list was prepared in 2023 to fill the vacancies, but the process was held up by a stay from the Madras High Court. The Minister linked the fresh appointments to Teachers' Day, stating that the government had carried them out transparently in the Higher Education Department.

On demands raised by legislators, Mr. Viswanathan said at least 60 members had sought new schools, arts and science colleges, and engineering colleges in their constituencies during the Assembly session. Setting up an arts and science college requires at least ₹18 crore, while an engineering college needs an investment of at least ₹20 crore, he said. The proposals will be placed before the Chief Minister for a decision after the Budget session, and even if approved this year, the new institutions could begin functioning only from the next academic year.

Addressing students, faculty and parents earlier, the Minister said the Higher Education Department would take steps to ensure every college had an active placement cell to arrange internships and industrial training and to secure jobs for students in various companies.

Presenting the annual report, Paul Wilson, principal and secretary of MCC, said the 189-year-old institution had, for the first time since it became co-educational in 1939, begun admitting women students under the sports quota through alumni engagement. Faculty members have filed 23 patents, of which 17 have been published, he said. More than 10 start-ups have been incubated at the MCC-MRF Innovation Park. A total of 3,181 students from the aided stream, including 1,956 women, graduated on Saturday.