The Association of University Teachers (AUT), Tamil Nadu, demanded action against Periyar University for changing the academic year regularly in order to illegally grant re-employment to a few preferred teachers.

All the State universities in Tamil Nadu adopt July 1 to June 30 as their academic year with May 1 to June 30 as their vacation period. The Act and the Statutes of Periyar University, Salem, had inadvertently mentioned the academic year as June 1 to May 31, causing hardship while granting re-employment to teachers superannuating during the middle of the academic year.

To clear the issue, the Periyar University Syndicate in 2019 adopted a categorical resolution, declaring July 1 to June 30 as its academic year, in consonance with other State universities. On that basis, the university had denied re-employment to a few teachers who retired up to June 30. Barring the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022, there was consistency.

AUT general secretary K. Raja said that Periyar University began its deviation with a circular dated May 30, 2022, stating that June 17, 2022, would be the last working day for the academic year 2022-23, with June 18 to July 17 as vacation, and the university re-opening on July 18, 2022. In the above period, Kumaradhas, physics professor who was to retire on June 9, 2022, was granted 11 months of re-employment.

Similarly, Mr. Raja noted that faculty members Selvaraj and Anbazhagan, who were to retire on June 2 and June 4, 2023, were offered re-employment until March 31, 2024. By a circular dated April 22, 2024, the registrar, in yet another deviation, declared May 9, 2024, as the last working day for the academic year 2023-24, with May 10 to June 28, 2024, as vacation, and the 2024-2025 academic year beginning on July 1.

 Mr. Raja said Professor Muthusamy, who retired in June 2024, was denied re-employment, and was relieved on June 30 itself. Meanwhile, V.R. Palanivelu, Department of Management Studies, superannuating on June 14, 2025, was granted re-employment for nine months until March 31, 2026, he added.

“The Registrar of Periyar University has now issued a circular on April 29, 2026, stating that May 1 to June 30 will be vacation and the university will reopen on July 1,” Mr. Raja said.

Mr. Raja said that with the ulterior intention to facilitate the illegal grant of re-employment to the preferred few teachers and deny the same to others, were permitted, making a mockery of the university system.

“This is re-employment racket,  causing huge loss to the public exchequer. We warrant a thorough probe to stem the head of corruption, nepotism, and favouritism at higher educational institutions,” Mr. Raja said, adding that the AUT appeals to the Department to initiate punitive action against those responsible for this fiasco.