Sun Aug 03 14:05:46 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a rewrite as a news article, incorporating the requested perspective:

**Summary:**

Periyar University in Salem, India, has replaced the heads of seven departments, the most significant change in leadership in two decades. Many heads of departments had been in their positions for over 10 years, allegedly due to support from the university administration, violating the Periyar University Act, which mandates rotating the position every three years. This long-term holding of positions had reportedly disadvantaged professors from Scheduled Caste and Most Backward Classes who weren’t given an opportunity to be Head of Department.

**News Article:**

**Periyar University Sees Major Shakeup: Seven Department Heads Replaced After Years of Stagnation**

**Salem, India – August 3, 2025** – Periyar University in Salem has undergone a significant administrative overhaul, replacing the heads of seven departments in a move unseen for the past two decades. The decision, announced today, marks a potential turning point for the university, addressing concerns of inequitable opportunity and adherence to established university regulations.

According to sources within the university, several department heads had remained in their positions for over a decade, a situation allegedly enabled by support from within the university administration. This practice directly contravenes the Periyar University Act, which stipulates a rotational system for the Head of Department (HoD) role, with tenures limited to three years and preference to the most senior professor.

The prolonged tenures of certain HoDs, it is claimed, have blocked opportunities for qualified professors, particularly those from Scheduled Caste and Most Backward Classes. This situation reportedly became untenable after the recent change of the Tamil department head, T. Periasamy, after serving for 12 years. The current Vice-Chancellor in-charge committee then started looking into the terms of various Heads of Departments.

“This is a welcome step towards ensuring fairness and transparency within the university administration,” said one faculty member, speaking on condition of anonymity. “For too long, the system has been allowed to stagnate, denying deserving individuals the chance to lead. It is crucial that this change is followed up with further reforms to promote a more inclusive and equitable environment.”

The university’s order to the new HoDs states that their tenure will be for three years or until they reach the age of 60. It remains to be seen whether this administrative restructuring will lead to broader positive changes within Periyar University, but many are hopeful that it signals a renewed commitment to the principles of fairness and equal opportunity.

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