MGR Medical University releases faculty data of 13,000 teaching staff after TN group’s transparency push

The Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University has published faculty details of more than 13,000 teaching staff in affiliated private medical colleges on its website, following a transparency request by Arappor Iyakkam, a civil society group in Chennai.

The faculty lists, covering nine categories for the 2023-24 academic year, include the institution code and name, speciality, designation and name of the faculty member.

Arappor Iyakkam welcomed the move but said the university should publish additional information, including Unique Faculty IDs, educational qualifications, work experience, research and publication details and photographs. The organisation said these details would help students, parents and the public verify faculty identities and qualifications and assess whether institutions meet the required faculty norms. They verified the details published by MGR Medical University.

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MGR Medical University RTI response

The details have been disclosed on the order of the Tamil Nadu Information Commission.

After uncovering irregularities at engineering colleges affiliated to Anna University, the TN citizen’s group had filed an application under the Right to Education Act in August 2024 seeking information on the university's affiliation process.

After the medical university failed to provide information, the organisation filed an appeal before the Tamil Nadu Information Commission in October, 2024.

The commission conducted a hearing on July 13, 2026, following which it directed that the information sought under the RTI application be provided by August 20, 2026, and that faculty details be published on the university website.

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MGR Medical University: Faculty strength under lens

“We are now examining whether the faculty strength meets the prescribed norms. For example, in mechanical engineering, the requirement is one professor and six assistant professors under the applicable AICTE norms, while the requirements differ for other departments. The university should not just publish the names and designations; it should also disclose the criteria and norms used to assess faculty strength,” said M Radhakrishnan of Arappor Iyakkam.

He said the organisation is still analysing the data and has not yet examined other colleges in detail. “We will publish further updates as and when we complete our investigation,” he added.

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TN Medical Colleges: Online verification of faculty records

Arappor Iyakkam has also called for an online reporting and faculty verification mechanism through which students, parents and members of the public can submit credible information or documentary evidence about potentially incorrect faculty records.

The organisation said the university should regularly update faculty information and make it searchable college-wise and department-wise to improve transparency in the affiliation process.