Chapter III OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY

The University shall consist of the following officers, namely:— (1) The Chancellor; (2) The Pro-Chancellor; (3) The Vice-Chancellor; (4) The Registrar; (5) The Deans; (6) The Finance Officer; (7) The Controller of Examination; and (8) Such other persons as may be declared by the statutes to be officers of the University

(1) The Governor of the State of Tamil Nadu shall be the Chancellor of the University. (2) The Chancellor shall be the head of the University and shall, when present, preside at any convocation of the University and confer degrees, titles, diplomas or other academic distinctions upon persons entitled to receive them. (3) No honorary degree or other distinction shall be conferred by the University upon any person without the approval of the Chancellor. (4) The Chancellor shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed on him by or under this Act.

(1) The Minister in-charge of Higher Education in the State of Tamil Nadu shall be the Pro-Chancellor of the University. (2) In the absence of the Chancellor, or during the Chancellor's inability to act, the Pro-Chancellor shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Chancellor. (3) The Pro-Chancellor shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be conferred on him by or under this Act.

(1) Every appointment of the Vice-Chancellor shall be made by the Chancellor from out of a panel of three names recommended by the Committee referred to in sub-section (2) and such panel shall not contain the name of any member of the said Committee: Provided that if the Chancellor does not approve any of the persons in the panel so recommended by the Committee, he may take steps to constitute another Committee, in accordance with sub-section (2) to give a fresh panel of three different names and shall appoint one of the persons named in the fresh panel as Vice-Chancellor. (2) For the purpose of sub-section (1), the Committee shall consist of —- (i) a nominee of the Chancellor, who shall be a retired Judge of the Supreme Court or any High Court or an eminent educationist; (ii) a nominee of the Government, who shall be a retired or serving officer of the State Government not below the rank of Principal Secretary to Government or an eminent educationist; and (iii) a nominee of the Syndicate who shall be an eminent educationist. Explanation— For the purpose of this sub-section, “eminent educationist” means a person,—- (i) who is or has been a Vice-Chancellor of any University established by the State Government or Central Government; or (ii) who is a distinguished academician, with a minimum of ten years of experience as Professor in a State or Central University or in both taken together; or (ii) who is or has been a Director or Head of any institute of national importance: Provided that the person so nominated shall not be a member of any of the authorities of the University or shall not be connected with the University or any college or any recognized institution of the University. (2-A) A person recommended by the Committee for appointment as Vice-Chancellor shall— (i) be a distinguished academician with highest level of competence, integrity, morals and institutional commitment; (ii) possess such educational qualifications and experience as may be specified by the State Government in consultation with the Chancellor by an order published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. (2-B) The process of nominating the members to the Committee by the authorities of the University and the Chancellor shall begin six months before the probable date of occurrence of vacancy in the office of the Vice-Chancellor and shall be completed four months before the probable date of occurrence of vacancy in the office of the Vice-Chancellor. (2-C) The process of preparing the panel of suitable persons for appointment as Vice-Chancellor shall begin at least four months before the probable date of occurrence of the vacancy in the office of the Vice-Chancellor. (2-D) The Committee shall submit its recommendation to the Chancellor within four months from the date of its constitution If the Committee does not submit its recommendation to the Chancellor within the said period, the Chancellor may grant further time to the Committee to submit its recommendation or take steps to constitute another Committee in accordance with sub-section (2). (3) The Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for a period of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for a further period of three years: Provided that the Vice-Chancellor may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Chancellor and after giving two months notice, resign his office: Provided further that a person appointed as Vice-Chancellor shall retire from office if, during the term of his office or any extension thereof, he completes the age of seventy years. (4) When any temporary vacancy occurs in the office of the Vice-Chancellor, or when the Vice-Chancellor is, by reason of illness, absence or for any other reason, unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office, the senior-most Professor of the University shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor till the Syndicate makes the requisite arrangements for exercising the powers and performing the duties of the Vice-Chancellor. (5) The Vice-Chancellor shall be a whole-time officer of the University and his emoluments and other terms and conditions of service shall be as follows:— (a) There shall be paid to the Vice-Chancellor a fixed salary of Rs. 75,000 along with special allowances of Rs. 5,000 per mensem or such higher salary as may be fixed by the Government from time to time and he shall be entitled without payment of rent to the use of a furnished residence throughout his term of office and no charge shall fall on the Vice-Chancellor personally in respect of the maintenance of such residence. He may be entitled to such other perquisites as may be provided in the statutes. (b) The Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to such terminal benefits and allowances as may be fixed by the Syndicate with the approval of the Chancellor from time to time: Provided that, where as employee of,— (i) the University; or (ii) any other University or college or institution, is appointed as Vice-Chancellor, he shall be allowed to continue to contribute to the Provident Fund to which he is a subscriber, and the contribution of the University shall be limited to what he had been contributing immediately before his appointment as Vice-Chancellor. (c) The Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to travelling allowances at such rates as may be fixed by the Syndicate. (d) The Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to earned leave on full pay at one-eleventh of the periods spent by him on active service: Provided that when the earned leave applied for by the Vice-Chancellor, in sufficient time before that date of expiry of the term of his office, is refused by the Chancellor in the interest of the University and if he does not avail of the leave before the date of expiry of the term of his office, he shall be entitled to draw cash equivalent to leave salary after relinquishment of his office in respect of earned leave at his credit subject to a maximum of two hundred and forty days. (e) The Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled, on medical grounds or otherwise, to leave without pay for a period of not exceeding three months during the term of his office: Provided that such leave may be converted into leave on full pay to the extent to which he is entitled to earned leave under clause (d). (6) The Vice-Chancellor shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the Chancellor passed on the ground of willful omission or refusal to carry out the provisions of this Act or for abuse of the powers vested in him and on the advice tendered by the Government on consideration of the report of an inquiry ordered by them under sub-section (7). (7) For the purposes of holding an inquiry under sub-section (6), the Government shall appoint a person who is or has been a Judge of the High Court or who is or has been an officer of the Government not below the rank of Chief Secretary to Government. The inquiry authority shall hold the inquiry after giving an opportunity to make representation by the Vice-Chancellor and shall submit a report to the Government on the action to be taken including penalty, if any, to be imposed, and the Government shall on consideration of the report advise the Chancellor The Chancellor shall act in accordance with such advice, as far as may be, in any case within three months.

(1) The Vice-Chancellor shall be the principal executive and academic head of the University. (2) The Vice-Chancellor shall, in the absence of the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor, preside at the convocation of the University and confer degrees, titles, diplomas or other academic distinctions upon persons entitled to receive them. (3) The Vice-Chancellor shall exercise control over the affairs of the University and shall be responsible for the due maintenance of discipline in the University. (4) The Vice-Chancellor shall ensure the faithful observance of the provisions of this Act and the statutes, ordinances and regulations made thereunder. (5) In any emergency, which in the opinion of the Vice-Chancellor requires immediate action to be taken, he shall, by order, take such action as he deems necessary and shall, at the earliest opportunity, report the action taken to such officer or authority or body as would have in the ordinary course dealt with the matter: Provided that no such order shall be passed unless the person likely to be affected, has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (6) Any person, aggrieved by any order of the Vice-Chancellor under sub-section (5), may prefer an appeal to the Syndicate within thirty days from the date on which such order is communicated to him and the Vice-Chancellor shall give effect to the order passed by the Syndicate on such appeal. (7) The Vice-Chancellor shall give effect to the decision of the Syndicate regarding the appointment, suspension and dismissal of the teachers and other persons employed in the University. (8) The Vice-Chancellor shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Syndicate, Academic Council and the Finance Committee. The Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to be present at, and to address, any meeting of any authority or other body of the University, but shall not be entitled to vote thereat, unless he is a member of the authority or body. (9) The Vice-Chancellor shall convene meetings of the Syndicate, the Academic Council and the Finance Committee. (10) The Vice-Chancellor shall be responsible for the co-ordination and integration of teaching and research extension education and curriculum development. (11) The Vice-Chancellor shall exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by statutes.

(1) The Registrar shall be a whole-time salaried officer of the University appointed by the Syndicate. The qualifications and the method of recruitment shall be such as may be prescribed. The terms and conditions of service of the Registrar shall be as follows:— (a) The holder of the post of Registrar shall be an academician not below the rank of a Professor of any University and shall possess the qualifications prescribed by the University Grants Commission; (b) The Registrar shall hold office for a period of three years: Provided that the Registrar shall retire on attaining the age of sixty years or on the expiry of period specified in this clause, whichever is earlier. (c) The emoluments and other terms and conditions of service of the Registrar shall be such as may be prescribed. (d) When the office of the Registrar is vacant or when the Registrar is, by reason of illness, absence or for any other cause, unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of the office of the Registrar shall be performed by such person as the Vice-Chancellor may appoint for the purpose. (2) (a) The Registrar shall have power to take disciplinary action against such of the employees, excluding teachers of the University and academic staff, as may be specified in the orders of the Syndicate and to suspend them pending inquiry, to administer warnings to them or to impose on them the penalty of censure or withholding of increments: Provided that no such penalty shall be imposed unless the person concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken in regard to him. (b) An appeal shall lie to the Vice-Chancellor against any order of the Registrar imposing any of the penalties specified in clause (a). (c) In any case where the inquiry discloses that penalty beyond the powers of the Registrar is called for, the Registrar shall, upon conclusion of the inquiry, make a report to the Vice-Chancellor along with his recommendations and the Vice-Chancellor shall pass an order imposing any penalty: Provided that an appeal shall lie to the Syndicate against an order of the Vice-Chancellor imposing any penalty. (d) No appeal under clause (b) or clause (c) shall be preferred after the expiry of sixty days from the date on which the order appealed against was received by the appellant. (3) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the Registrar shall be the ex-officio Secretary to the Syndicate, the Academic Council, the Faculties and the Board of Studies, but shall not be deemed to be a member of any of these authorities: (4) It shall be the duty of the Registrar,— (a) to be the custodian of the records, the common seal and such other property of the University as the Syndicate shall commit to his charge; (b) to issue all notice convening meetings of the Syndicate, the Academic Council, the Faculties, the Boards of Studies, the Boards of Examiners and of any Committee appointed by the authorities of the University; (c) to keep the minutes of all the proceedings of the meetings of the Syndicate, the Academic Council, the Faculties, the Boards of Studies, the Boards of Examiners and of any Committee appointed by the authorities of the University; (d) to conduct the official correspondence of the Syndicate; (e) to supply to the Chancellor copies of the agenda of the meetings of the authorities of the University as soon as they are issued and the minutes of the proceedings of such meetings; and (f) to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be specified in the statutes, the ordinances or the regulations or as may be required, from time to time, by the Syndicate or the Vice-Chancellor (5) In all suits and other legal proceedings by or against the University, the pleadings shall be signed and verified by the Registrar and all process in such suits and proceedings, shall be issued to, and served on, the Registrar.

(1) The Dean shall be appointed by the Vice- Chancellor from among the professors in the Faculty for a period of three years and he shall be eligible for reappointment: Provided that a Dean on attaining the age of sixty years shall cease to hold office as such: Provided further that if at anytime there is no Professor in a Faculty, the Vice-Chancellor shall exercise the powers of the Dean of the Faculty. (2) When the office of the Dean is vacant or when the Dean is, by reason of illness, absence or any other cause, unable to perform his duties of his office, the duties of his office shall be performed by such person as the Vice-Chancellor may appoint for the purpose. (3) The Dean shall be the Head of the Faculty and shall be responsible for the conduct and maintenance of the standards of teaching and research in the Faculty. The Dean shall have such other functions as may be prescribed by the ordinance. (4) The Dean shall have the right to be present and to speak at any meeting of the Board of Studies or Committees or the Faculty, as the case may be, but shall not have the right to vote thereat unless he is a member thereof.

(1) The Finance Officer shall be the whole-time salaried officer of the University appointed by the Syndicate for such period as may be specified by the Syndicate in this behalf. (2) Every appointment of the Finance Officer shall be made by the Syndicate on the recommendations of the Vice-Chancellor from a panel of three names of officers forwarded by the Government. (3) The emoluments and other terms and conditions of service of the Finance Officer shall be such as may be prescribed. (4) The Finance Officer shall retire on attaining the age of fifty-eight years or on the expiry of the period specified by the Syndicate under sub-section (1), whichever is earlier. (5) When the office of the Finance Officer is vacant or when the Finance Officer, is by reason of illness, absence or for any other cause unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of the Finance Officer shall be performed by such person as the Vice-Chancellor may appoint for the purpose. (6) The Finance Officer shall be the ex-officio Secretary to the Finance Committee, but shall not be deemed to be a member of such Committee. (7) The Finance Officer shall,— (a) exercise general supervision over the funds of the University and shall advise the University as regards its financial policy; and (b) exercise such other powers and perform such other financial functions as may be assigned to him by the Syndicate or as may be prescribed: Provided that the Finance Officer shall not incur any expenditure or make any investment exceeding such amount as may be prescribed without the previous approval of the Syndicate. (8) Subject to the control of the Syndicate, the Finance Officer shall,— (a) ensure that the limit fixed by the Syndicate for recurring and non-recurring expenditure for a year are not exceeded and that all moneys are expended on the purposes for which they are granted or allotted; (b) be responsible for the preparation of annual accounts, financial estimates and the budget of the University and for their presentation to the Syndicate; (c) keep a constant watch on the cash and bank balance and of investments; (d) watch the progress of the collection of revenue and advise on the methods of collection employed; (e) ensure that the registers of buildings, lands, furniture and equipments are maintained upto date and that stock checking is conducted, of equipments and other consumable materials in all offices, special centres, specialized laboratories; (f) bring to the notice of the Vice-Chancellor any unauthorised expenditure or other financial irregularity and suggest appropriate action to be taken against person at fault; and (g) call from any office, department, centre, laboratory and college maintained by the University, any information or returns that he may consider necessary for the performance of his duties. (9) The receipt of the Finance Officer or of the person or persons duly authorised in this behalf by the Syndicate for any money payable to the University shall be a sufficient discharge for payment of such money.

(1) The Controller of Examinations shall be an academician and a whole-time officer of the University appointed by the Syndicate on the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor for such period and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. (2) The Controller of Examinations shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed.

The Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, the Finance Officer, the Controller of Examinations and other employees of the University shall be deemed, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act, to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.