Anna University engineering colleges sack over 300 temp teachers; defiance of court orders, says association

A recent academic and legal crisis has unfolded at Anna University’s 16 affiliated engineering colleges, as the Temporary Professors’ Association alleges that 328 faculty members have been dismissed in direct defiance of orders from the Supreme Court and Madras High Court.

According to the association, these professors, many of whom hold doctoral degrees, have been the backbone of the university’s academic operations for the past 10 to 15 years.

The association claims that despite judicial mandates for their regularisation dating back to 2020, the university administration has moved to terminate their services through "oral instructions" to evade legal documentation.

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Allegations of negligence

The sudden dismissal of 328 experienced faculty members from 16 affiliated engineering colleges has led to a significant breakdown in educational standards, with educationists warning that Anna University is employing administrative "shortcuts" that compromise technical education quality.

A major concern involves the violation of safety and regulatory ratios; while All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and University Grants Commission guidelines mandate one teacher for every 20 students in laboratory settings, the administration has allegedly instructed a single teacher to manage 60 to 80 students simultaneously. Teachers warn that this creates a dangerous environment that lacks direct training, proper evaluation, and essential hands-on experience.

In a further controversial move, a video conference led by the Registrar (in-charge) reportedly instructed principals to conduct dual-medium classrooms where Tamil-medium and English-medium students are taught together by the same teacher at the same time. The Association alleges these actions are specifically designed to force the removal of consolidated-pay assistant professors.

Statewide protests

The association highlighted that the dismissals directly contradict the Tamil Nadu chief minister’s election manifesto promises. This specific promise pledged to regularise consolidated-pay employees who had completed 10 years of service.

The professors noted that while there are currently approved vacant posts available within the university system, the administration has chosen "arbitrary dismissal" over the promised regularization.

Faculty representatives state they have repeatedly submitted petitions to higher education officials and the university registrar. However, they allege that these appeals have been met with total inaction.

"If the quality of education and the credibility of an Anna University degree are to be protected, these experienced professors must be reinstated immediately," the association stated. They have warned that unless the dismissal orders are revoked and the regularisation process begins, they will launch intensified protests across Tamil Nadu.