Tue Apr 15 17:56:21 UTC 2025: ## Madras University Syndicate Rejects Budget Cuts, Citing Damage to Academic Standards

**Chennai, April 15, 2025** – The Syndicate of the University of Madras has strongly condemned drastic budget cuts imposed by the university’s finance committee, calling them detrimental to academic standards and student welfare. The cuts, approved by a committee chaired by the Higher Education Secretary C. Samayamoorthy, affect various aspects of university operations, including a 20% reduction in departmental contingency funds, a 30% cut in library resources, and a 40% reduction in building maintenance funds. Student facilities and sports programs face a 50% reduction.

The Syndicate members, in a letter to the registrar, expressed deep concern over the proposed reduction in outsourced staff (from 221 to 150) and guest lecturers (from 115 to 75), as well as the mandate to fill teaching and non-teaching positions through the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) and the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) respectively, instead of the university’s established processes. They argue that the TRB recruitment process is inadequate for the university’s needs and undermines academic autonomy.

Furthermore, the Syndicate criticized the finance committee’s inaction regarding purchase irregularities at the Dr. MGR Centenary Centre for Social Development Studies, demanding an explanation for the lack of action on a previously submitted inquiry report. They also highlighted the university’s significant faculty shortage (66% deficient), along with numerous vacancies in non-teaching positions, and the detrimental impact of a prolonged delay in holding purchase committee meetings, resulting in the return of unused research grants and significant financial losses.

The Syndicate is urging the state government to reconsider the budget cuts and provide sufficient funding to maintain the university’s operations without compromising academic quality and student well-being. The university is currently being run by a convenor committee due to the absence of a Vice-Chancellor since August 2023.

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