A group of former post-graduate students and doctoral students of Bharathiar University, including women candidates, has petitioned District Collector TN Hariharan, alleging irregularities in the appointment of assistant professors in various departments for which interviews were held recently.

Citing the University’s Board of Studies agenda dated June 10, 2016, the petitioners alleged that the Vice Chancellor Dr A Ganapathi has flouted the norms by not appointing candidates who have obtained their doctorate in the regular stream and studied in Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.

Instead category B researchers, who have obtained their doctorate in one year study and those who obtained the research qualification part-time, were appointed to the posts against the norms.

“Though rules cite that blood relatives should not be appointed in the same department, this rule too, was flouted in the appointments by the University and the Vice Chancellor,” the former students alleged.

Students who have obtained their qualification from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, were given precedence in the selection process , while the rules clearly state that former students of the Bharathiar University should be given preference in the selection to various teaching posts, including assistant and associate professor, the students said in their petition.