Sun Aug 31 00:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewrite of the provided text as a news article:
**Summary:**
Faculty members at the University of Madras (UoM) are protesting scheduled promotion interviews, claiming they violate university statutes due to the absence of a permanent Vice-Chancellor. Concerns include the authority of the interim Convener Committee to oversee such promotions, deviations in the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), and alleged irregularities in previous promotions and PhD guideship awards. Some faculty argue against delaying the promotions, citing impending retirements and potential loss of opportunities for eligible candidates.
**News Article:**
**Madras University Faculty Protest Promotion Interviews, Citing Statute Violations**
**Chennai, August 31, 2025** – A wave of dissent has erupted within the University of Madras (UoM) as faculty members voice strong objections to upcoming promotion interviews scheduled for September 1st. At the heart of the controversy are claims that the interviews, overseen by the university’s Convener Committee, violate established statutes.
Several letters, including one from the Professors’ Forum of Madras University, have been sent to the Convener Committee, an interim body managing the university since the Vice-Chancellor’s term ended in August 2023. These letters allege that the committee lacks the authority to conduct Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions for professor and associate professor positions.
“The Convener Committee is meant for day-to-day operations,” explained V. Chandrakumar, president of the Professors’ Forum. “They are not empowered to recruit or promote faculty at the level of associate professor or professor. An academician is a better judge for the selection of another academician to a senior cadre. We request the Chief Minister to intervene” The letter also demanded a uniform policy for rotation of headship, appointment of school chairpersons, and senior faculty members to be appointed as deans, directors, coordinators, and as governing body members in affiliate colleges.
Further fueling the controversy, Chitti. Annapoorna, head of the Hindi department, has called for an inquiry into alleged “irregularities and malpractices” surrounding a past promotion and PhD guideship award within her department. Annapoorna claims to have previously alerted university authorities to instances of plagiarism.
While critics maintain that the promotions are procedurally flawed, some faculty members argue for their continuation. They contend that delaying the interviews would unfairly deprive eligible candidates nearing retirement of well-deserved promotions and potential professional opportunities, including committee memberships and international collaborations.
Despite the objections, the three-member Convener Committee is currently slated to proceed with the CAS promotion process, raising questions about the legitimacy and future of faculty appointments at the esteemed institution. The situation remains fluid, and the university administration has yet to release an official statement addressing the concerns.
First Piper 