Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Periyar University Act, 1997.

1. (2) It extends to the area comprising the districts of Salem, Dharmapuri and Rajaji in the State of Tamil Nadu.
2. (3) It applies to all colleges and institutions situate within the University area and affiliated to, or approved by, the University in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the statutes, ordinances and regulations made thereunder and also to all colleges and institutions deemed to be affiliated to, or approved by, the University under this Act.
3. (4) This section and sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 46, 55, 56, 57 and 65 shall come into force at once and the rest of this Act shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification, appoint.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "affiliated college" means any college situate within the University area and affiliated to the University and providing courses of study for admission to the examinations for degrees of the University and includes a college deemed to be affiliated to the University under this Act;

1. (b) "approved college" means any college situate within the University area and approved by the University and providing courses of study for admission to the examinations for titles and diplomas of the University and includes a college deemed to be approved by the University under this Act;
2. (c) "autonomous college" means any college designated as an autonomous college by statutes;
3. (d) "college" means any college or any institution maintained or approved by, or affiliated to, the University and providing courses of study for admission to the examinations of the University;
4. (e) "Government" means the State Government;
5. (f) "hostel" means a unit of residence for the students of the University maintained or recognised by the University in accordance with the provisions of this Act and includes a hostel deemed to be recognised by the University under this Act;
6. (g) "notified date" means the date specified in the notification issued under sub-section (4) of section 1;
7. (h) "post-graduate college" means a University college or an affiliated college situate within the University area and providing post-graduate courses of study leading upto the post-graduate degrees of the University;
   • (i) "prescribed" means prescribed by this Act or the statutes, ordinances or regulations;
8. (j) "Principal" means the head of a college;
9. (k) "professional college" means a college established or maintained by the University or affiliated to the University and providing courses of study leading upto the professional degrees of the University;
10. (l) "registered graduate" means a graduate registered under this Act;
11. (m) "statutes", "ordinances" and "regulations" means, respectively, the statutes, ordinances and regulations of the University made or continued in force under this Act;
12. (n) "teachers" means such Lecturers, Readers, Assistant Professors, Professors and other persons giving instruction in University colleges or laboratories, in affiliated or approved colleges, or in hostels, and Librarians as may be declared by the statutes to be teachers;
13. (o) "teachers of the University" means persons appointed by the University to give instruction on its behalf;
14. (p) "University" means the Periyar University;
15. (q) "University area" means the area to which this Act extends under sub-section (2) of section 1;
16. (r) "University centre" means any area within the University area recognised by the Government on the recommendation of the University and containing one or more colleges competent to engage in higher teaching and research work and to promote University life in a manner calculated to prepare for the institution of a new University;
17. (s) "University college" means a college or a college combined with a research institute maintained by the University, whether instituted by it or not, and providing courses of study leading upto the post-graduate and professional degrees of the University;
18. (t) "University Grants Commission" means the Commission established under section 4 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956;
19. (u) "University laboratory" means a laboratory maintained by the University, whether instituted by it or not, and intended for the carrying on and advancement of research work;
    • (v) "University Lecturer", "University Reader" or "University Professor" means a Lecturer, Reader or Professor, respectively, appointed or deemed to be appointed as such by the University;
20. (w) "University library" means a library maintained by the University, whether instituted by it or not.