Posting of Madurai Kamaraj University finance officer creates row

Previously Manimegalai, the deputy finance officer of the Tamil Nadu Local Audit Department had served as the Finance Officer (I/C) at the MKU.
For representational purposes
For representational purposes

MADURAI: The appointment of Finance Officer (I/C) of the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) apparently without the consent of the university syndicate during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor (VC) P P Chellathurai has created a row.

Only officers belonging to the Tamil Nadu Local Audit Department can be appointed as Finance Officer (FO) of MKU. This is the usual procedure followed. The post of the FO is a key one and all the expenses of the university are to be signed by him.

Previously Manimegalai, the deputy finance officer of the Tamil Nadu Local Audit Department had served as the Finance Officer (I/C) at the MKU. After her retirement, Chellathurai appointed Meenakshi Sundaram, who had been the deputy registrar at the MKU, as the FO (I/C). Meenakshi Sundaram has been in this post for more than a year.

However, the appointment is shrouded by controversy. Firstly, the V-C does not have the power to appoint an FO. In this case, the V-C had appointed the FO, that too allegedly without getting the approval of the syndicate committee.

Speaking to Express, Meenakshi Sundaram said, “I was nominated as the FO (I/C) by the former V-C Chellathurai. MKU has sent a letter to the TN Local Audit Department to appoint an FO.” MKU Registrar V Chinniah was not available to comment on the issue.

Speaking to Express, M Ramakrishnan, a syndicate member, who is also a member of the convener committee said that the FO is usually appointed by the Tamil Nadu Government’s Local Audit Department. He also said that the issue was taken to the notice of the top officials in the Higher Education Department. He confirmed that Chellathurai did not get approval from the syndicate committee when appointing the Finance Officer.

Usual procedure

Only officers belonging to the Tamil Nadu Local Audit Department can be appointed as Finance Officer of MKU. This is the usual procedure followed. The post of the FO is a key one and all the expenses of the university are to be signed by him

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