Panneerselvam, Dhinakaran Object to TNOU Staff Transfers

Fast Summary

• O. Panneerselvam, coordinator of AIADMK Workers’ Rights Retrieval Committee, and AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran have opposed the Tamil Nadu goverment’s reported decision to transfer teaching staff from Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) to other universities.
• The move reportedly violates norms set by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• TNOU currently has 37 professors and 43 assistant professors, all serving on a temporary basis.
• The affected teaching staff have staged protests against the transfers in recent days.
• Mr. Dhinakaran has urged the DMK government to revoke this decision and instead focus on filling vacancies within TNOU.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The transfer of academic staff from Tamil Nadu Open University raises broader concerns about educational governance in India, especially adherence to UGC norms and addressing staffing shortfalls at public universities. While reallocating existing teaching resources may be seen as a solution for wider systemic issues, it could disrupt TNOU’s functioning at a time when accessible higher education holds increasing importance for marginalized communities in India. The protests highlight how sudden administrative decisions without clear stakeholder engagement risk eroding trust between educators and governing bodies-potentially hindering long-term policy effectiveness.

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Read more: – July 10, 2025 11:24 pm IST