Governor and chancellor of state-run universities, Mr K. Rosaiah has increased the retirement age of vice-chancellors in nine universities from the present 65 to 70 years.
According to the ordinance dated July 14, the state government has revised the retirement age of vice-chancellors for Coimbatore Bharathiyar University, Tiruchy Bharathidasan University, Tirunelveli Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Salem Periyar University, Karaikudi Alagappa University, Kodaikanal Mother Teresa Women’s University, Vellore Thiruvalluvar University, Chennai Tamil Nadu Open University and Chennai Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University.
The University of Madras and Madurai Kamaraj University, meanwhile, have no retirement age for vice-chancellors.
According to the ordinance, the retirement age has been revised to be on par with central universities so as to utilise the knowledge gained by academicians for the enrichment of education in the state.
Welcoming the move, former Anna University vice-chancellor Prof E. Balagurusamy said that the government’s decision will help retain talented academicians as vice-chancellors.
“When you revise the retirement age of a few universities why not across all universities in the state? There are many people with good academic track record aged over 65. Now the government is not able to utilise their services as the retirement age is a big hurdle for them,” he said.