(a) the holding of convocation to confer degrees or other academic distinctions;
(b) the conferment of honorary degrees or other distinctions;
(c) the constitution, powers and functions of the authorities of the University;
(d) the manner of filling vacancies among members of the authorities of the University;
(e) the allowances to be paid to the members of the authorities of the University and committees thereto;
(f) the procedures at the meetings of the authorities of the University including the quorum for the transaction of business at such meetings;
(g) the authentication of the orders of decisions of the authorities of the University;
(h) the formation of departments of research at the University;
(i) the term of office and methods of appointment and conditions of service of the officers of the University other than the Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor;
Board of Studies.
Constitution of other authorities.
Constitution of Committees and delegation of powers.
Constitution and functions of Faculties.
Regulations.
(j) the qualifications of the teachers and other persons employed by the University;
(k) the classification, the method of appointment and determination of the terms and conditions of service of the teachers and other persons employed by the University;
(l) the institution of pension, gratuity, insurance or provident fund for the benefit of the officers, teachers and other persons employed by the University;
(m) the institution of fellowships, travelling fellowships, scholarships, studentships, bursaries, exhibitions, medals and prizes and the conditions of award thereof;
(n) the establishment and maintenance of halls and hostels;
(o) the conditions for regulation of hostels other than those maintained by the University;
(p) the conditions for residence of students of the University in the halls and the hostels and the levy of fees and other charges for such residence;
(q) the conditions of registration of graduates and the maintenance of register thereof;
(r) the delegation of powers vested in the authorities of officers of the University; and
(s) any other matter which is required to be or may be prescribed by the regulations.
Regulations how made.
37. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Executive Council shall have, in addition to all the other powers vested in it, the power to frame regulations to provide for the administration and management of the affairs of the University:
Provided that the Executive Council shall not make any regulation affecting the status, powers or constitution of any authority of the University until such authority has been given an opportunity of expressing an opinion in writing on the proposed change, and any opinion so expressed shall be considered by the Executive Council:
Provided further that except with the prior concurrence of the Academic Council, the Executive Council shall not make, amend or repeal any regulation affecting any or all of the following matters, namely:-
(a) the constitution, powers and duties of the Academic Council;
(b) the authorities responsible for organizing teaching in connection with the University courses and related academic programmes;
(c) the withdrawal of degrees, certificates or other academic distinctions;
(d) the establishment and abolition of faculties, departments, halls and institutions;
(e) the institution of fellowships, scholarships, studentships, exhibitions, medals and prizes;
(f) conditions and modes of appointment of examiners or conduct or standard of examinations or any other course of study;
(g) mode of enrolment or admission of students;
(h) examinations to be recognised as equivalent to University examinations.
(2) The Academic Council shall have the power to propose regulations on all the matters specified in clauses (a) to (h) of sub-section (1) and matters incidental and related thereto.
(3) Where the Executive Council has rejected the draft of a regulation proposed by the Academic Council, the Academic Council may appeal to the Chancellor and the Chancellor, may, by order, direct that the proposed regulation may be laid before the next meeting of the General Council for its approval and that pending such approval of the General Council it shall have effect from such date as may be specified in that order:
Provided that if the regulation is not approved by the General Council at such meeting, it shall cease to have effect.
(4) All regulations made by the Executive Council shall be submitted, as soon as may be, for approval, to the Chancellor and to the General Council at its next meeting, and the General Council shall have power by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members present, to cancel any regulation made by the Executive Council and such regulation shall from the date of such resolution cease to have effect.
CHAPTER VI.
ADMISSION AND RESIDENCE OF STUDENTS.
38. No person shall be admitted to a course of study in the University for admission to the examination for degrees or other academic distinctions of the University unless he,-
(a) has passed the examination prescribed therefor; and
(b) fulfills such other conditions as may be prescribed.
39. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 38 or in any other provisions of this Act, the Government may specify, by general or special order, the policy, guidelines, method and procedure for selection of candidates for admission to a course of study.
40. Every student of the University shall reside in a hostel maintained or recognised by the University or under such conditions as may be prescribed.
CHAPTER VII.
UNIVERSITY FUNDS, ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS.
41. The University shall have a General Fund to which shall be credited,-
(a) its income from fees, grants, donations and gifts, if any;
(b) any contribution or grant made by the Central Government or any State Government or the Bar Council of India or the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu or any local authority or the University Grants Commission or any other similar body or any corporation owned or controlled by the Central or any State Government;
(c) the endowments and other receipts; and
(d) the money borrowed by it.
42. The University may have such other funds as may be prescribed.
43. The funds and all moneys of the University shall be managed in such manner as may be prescribed.
44. The Annual report of the University shall be prepared by the Executive Council and shall be submitted to the General Council on or before such date as may be prescribed and shall be considered by the General Council at its next annual meeting. The General Council may pass resolutions thereon and communicate the same to the Executive Council which shall take action in accordance therewith. The Executive Council shall inform the General Council of the action taken by it. A copy of the report with a copy of the resolution thereon, if any, of the General Council shall be submitted to the Government.
45. (1) The Annual accounts of the University, shall be submitted to such examination and audit as the Government may direct and a copy of the annual accounts and audit report shall be submitted to the Government.
(2) The University shall settle objections raised in such audit and carry out such instructions as may be issued by the Government on the audit report.
(3) The accounts, when audited, shall be published by the Executive Council in such manner as may be prescribed and copies thereof shall be submitted to the General Council at its next meeting and to the Government within three months of such publication.
(4) The Government shall cause the annual audited accounts and annual report to be laid before the Legislative Assembly together with their comments.
Admission to University Courses.
Selection and Admission of Candidates to University.
Residence of Students.
General Fund.
Other Funds.
Management of Funds.
Annual report.
Annual accounts.
CHAPTER VIII.
Pension, gratuity, etc.
Conditions of Service.
Selection Committee.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
46. The University shall institute for the benefit of its officers, teachers, and other persons employed by the University, such pension, gratuity, insurance and provident fund as it may deem fit, in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.
47. Subject to the provisions of this Act, the appointment, procedure for selection, pay and allowances and other conditions of service of officers, teachers and other persons employed in the University shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that in regard to the appointments in the University, the rule of reservation as applicable to the appointments in the services under the Government shall be followed.
Explanation.—For the purpose of this section, the word “officers” shall not include the Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor.
48. (1) There shall be a Selection Committee for making recommendations to the General Council for appointment to the posts of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor and Librarian of the University.
(2) The Selection Committee for appointment to the posts specified in sub-section (1) shall consist of the Vice-Chancellor, a nominee of the Chancellor, a nominee of the Government and such other persons as may be prescribed:
Provided that the selection for such appointment by the Selection Committee shall be made in accordance with the guidelines that may be issued by the University Grants Commission or other agencies concerned in relation to such appointment.
(3) The meetings of the Selection Committee shall be convened by the Vice- Chancellor.
(4) The procedure to be followed by the Selection Committee in making recommendations shall be laid down in the regulations.
(5) If the Executive Council is unable to accept the recommendations made by a Selection Committee, it shall record its reasons and submit the case to the Chancellor for final orders.
(6) Appointments to temporary posts or vacancies shall be made in the manner indicated below:-
(a) If the temporary vacancy is for a duration longer than one academic session, it shall be filled on the advice of the Selection Committee in accordance with the procedure indicated in the foregoing provisions:
Provided that if the Vice-Chancellor is satisfied that in the interest of work it is necessary to fill the vacancy, the appointment may be made on a temporary basis by a local Selection Committee referred to in clause (b) for a period not exceeding six months;
(b) If the temporary vacancy is for a period less than a year, appointment to such vacancy shall be made on the recommendation of a local Selection Committee consisting of the Dean of the Faculty concerned, the Head of the Department and a nominee of the Vice-Chancellor:
Provided that if the same person holds the offices of the Dean of the faculty and Head of the Department, the Selection Committee may consist of two nominees of the Vice- Chancellor:
Provided further that in case of sudden casual vacancies in teaching posts caused by death or any other reason, the Dean of the Faculty, in consultation with the Head of the Department concerned, may make a temporary appointment for a month and report to the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar about such appointment;
(c) No teacher appointed temporarily shall, if he is not recommended by a regular Selection Committee for appointment under this Act, be continued in service on such temporary employment unless he is subsequently selected by a local Selection Committee or a regular Selection Committee, for a temporary or a permanent appointment, as the case may be.
49. (1) Each Department of the University shall have a Head who shall be a Professor and whose duties and functions and terms and conditions of appointment shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that if there is more than one Professor in any Department, the Head of the Department shall be appointed in the manner prescribed:
Provided further that in a Department where there is no Professor, an Associate Professor or an Assistant Professor may be appointed as Head of the Department in the manner prescribed.
(2) It shall be open to a Professor or an Associate Professor or an Assistant Professor to decline the offer of appointment as Head of the Department.
(3) A person appointed as Head of the Department shall hold office as such for a period of three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment.
(4) A Head of the Department may resign his office at any time during his tenure of office.
(5) A Head of the Department shall perform such functions as may be prescribed.
50. (1) Every Dean of Faculty shall be appointed by the Vice-Chancellor from among the Professors in the Faculty for a period of three years and he shall be eligible for reappointment:
Provided that a Dean on attaining the age of sixty years shall cease to hold office as such:
Provided further that if at any time there is no Professor in a Faculty, the Vice- Chancellor shall exercise the powers of the Dean of the Faculty.
(2) When the office of the Dean is vacant or when the Dean is by reason of his illness, absence or any other cause unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of his office shall be performed by such person as the Vice-Chancellor may appoint for the purpose.
(3) The Dean shall be the Head of the Faculty and shall be responsible for the conduct and maintenance of the standards of teaching and research in the Faculty. The Dean shall perform such other functions as may be prescribed.
(4) The Dean shall have the right to be present and to speak at any meeting of the Boards of Studies or Committees of the Faculty, as the case may be, but shall not have the right to vote there at unless he is a member thereof.
CHAPTER IX.
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS.
51. Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 11, within three months from the appointed date, the first Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Government for a period not exceeding three years and on such other conditions as they think fit:
Provided that a person appointed as first Vice-Chancellor shall retire from office, if during the term of his office, he completes the age of sixty-five years.
52. Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 14, within three months from the appointed date, the first Registrar shall be appointed by the Government on a salary to be fixed by them for a period not exceeding three years and on such other conditions as they think fit.
53. (1) It shall be the duty of the first Vice-Chancellor to make arrangements for constituting the General Council, the Executive Council, the Academic Council, the Finance Committee and such other authorities of the University within six months from the date of his appointment or such longer period not exceeding one year as the Government may, by notification specify.
(2) The first Vice-Chancellor shall, in consultation with the Government, make such rules as may be necessary for the functioning of the University.
Terms and conditions of appointment of Heads of Departments.
Deans of Faculties.
Appointment of first Vice- Chancellor.
Appointment of first Registrar.
Transitory Powers of first Vice- Chancellor.
(3) The authorities constituted under sub-section (1) shall commence to exercise their function on such date as the Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf.
(4) It shall be the duty of the first Vice-Chancellor to draft such regulations as may be necessary and submit them to the respective authorities for their disposal. Such regulations when framed shall be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act and the regulations and until such time an authority is duly constituted, the first Vice-Chancellor may, appoint any officer or constitute any committee temporarily to exercise and perform any of the powers and duties of such authority under this Act and the regulations.
CHAPTER X.
Honorary Degree.
Withdrawal of Degree.
Discipline.
Sponsored Schemes.
Filling of casual vacancies.
MISCELLANEOUS.
54. If not less than two thirds of the members of the Academic Council, recommend that an honorary degree or academic distinction be conferred on any person on the ground that he is in their opinion by reason of eminent attainment and position, fit and proper to receive such degree or academic distinction, the General Council may, by a resolution, decide that the same may be conferred on the person recommended.
55. (1) The General Council, may, on the recommendation of the Executive Council, withdraw any distinction or degree conferred on or granted to any person by a resolution passed by the majority of the total membership of the General Council and by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members of the General Council present and voting at the meeting, if such person has been convicted by a court of law for an offence, which in the opinion of the General Council involves moral turpitude or if he has been guilty of gross misconduct.
(2) No action under this section shall be taken against any person unless he has been given an opportunity to show cause against the action proposed to be taken.
(3) A copy of the resolution passed by the General Council shall be immediately sent to the person concerned.
(4) Any person aggrieved by the decision taken by the General Council may appeal to the Chancellor within thirty days from the date of the receipt of such resolution.
(5) The decision of the Chancellor on such appeal shall be final.
56. (1) The final authority responsible for maintenance of discipline among the students of the University shall be the Vice-Chancellor. His directions in that behalf shall be carried out by the Heads of Departments and hostels.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the punishment of debarring a student from the examination or rustication from the University or a hostel, shall on the report of the Vice-Chancellor be considered and imposed by the Executive Council:
Provided that no such punishment shall be imposed without giving to the student concerned a reasonable opportunity to show cause against the action proposed to be taken against him.
57. Whenever the University receives funds from any Government, the University Grants Commission or other agencies sponsoring a scheme to be executed by the University, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or the regulations,—
(a) the amount received shall be kept by the University separately from the General Fund and utilized only for the purpose of the scheme; and
(b) the staff required to execute the scheme shall be recruited in accordance with the terms and conditions stipulated by the sponsoring organisation.
58. All casual vacancies among the members (other than ex-officio members), of any authority of the University shall be filled as soon as may be, by the person or body who or which nominated or elected the member whose place has become vacant and the person nominated or elected to a casual vacancy shall be a member of such authority for the residue of the term for which the person whose place he fills would have been a member:
Provided that vacancies arising by efflux of time among elected members of any authority of the University may be filled at election which may be fixed by the Vice- Chancellor to take place on such date, not earlier than two months from the date on which the vacancies arise, as he thinks fit:
Provided further that no casual vacancy shall be filled if such vacancy occurs within six months before the date of the expiry of the term of the member of any authority of the University.
59. No act or proceeding of any authority of the University shall be invalidated merely by reason of the existence of any vacancy or of any defect or irregularity in the election or nomination of a member of such authority of the University or of any defect or irregularity in such act or proceeding not affecting the merits of the case or on the ground only that the authority of the University did not meet at such intervals as required under this Act.
60. (1) The Executive Council may,—
(a) on the recommendation of not less than two thirds of the members of the Executive Council, remove, by an order in writing, made in this behalf, the name of any person from the register of law graduates; or
(b) remove, by an order in writing, made in this behalf, any person from membership of any authority of the University by a resolution passed by a majority of the total membership of the Executive Council and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Executive Council present and voting at the meeting, if such person has been convicted by a court of law for an offence which in the opinion of the Executive Council involves moral turpitude or if he has been guilty of gross misconduct and for the same reason, the Executive Council may withdraw any degree or other academic distinction conferred on, or granted to, that person by the University.
(2) The Executive Council may also by an order in writing made in this behalf, remove any person from the membership of any authority of the University if he becomes of unsound mind or has applied to be adjudicated, or has been adjudicated, as an insolvent.
(3) No action under this section shall be taken against any person unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity to show cause against the action proposed to be taken.
Proceedings of University authorities not to be invalidated by vacancies.
Removal from membership of University.
(4) A copy of every order passed under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), as the case may be, shall as soon as may be, after it is so passed, be communicated, to the person concerned in the manner prescribed.
61. If any question arises, whether any person has been duly elected or nominated as, or is entitled to be, a member of any authority of the University or other body of the University, the question shall be referred to the Chancellor whose decision thereon shall be final.
62. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, the Government may, by order in writing, call for any information from the University on any matter relating to the affairs of the University and the University shall, if such information is available with it, furnish to the Government such information within a reasonable period:
Provided that in the case of information which the University considers confidential, the University may place the same before the Chancellor for his decision.
63. (1) The Librarian shall be a whole time officer of the University appointed by the Executive Council on the recommendation of the Selection Committee constituted for the purpose for such period and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.
(2) The Librarian shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the Executive Council.
64. (1) The Executive Council may invite a person of high academic distinction and professional attainments to accept a post of Professor in the University on such terms and conditions as it deems fit, and on his acceptance, appoint him to the post.
Disputes as to election or nomination to University authorities and bodies.
Power to obtain information.
Librarian.
Special mode of appointment.
Power to remove difficulties.
Power of Government to give direction.
(2) The Executive Council may appoint a teacher or any other member of the academic staff working in any other University or organization for undertaking a joint project in accordance with the manner prescribed.
65. (1) If any difficulty arises as to the first constitution or reconstitution of any authority of the University after the date of publication of this Act or otherwise, in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government may, by notification, make such provision, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to them to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no such notification shall be issued after the expiry of two years from the date of establishment of the University under section 3.
(2) Every notification issued under sub-section (1) or under any other provision of this Act shall, as soon as possible after it is issued, be placed on the table of the Legislative Assembly, and if, before the expiry of the session in which it is so placed or the next session, the Assembly makes any modification in any such notification, shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that notification.
66. The Government may, from time to time, issue such directions to the University, as they may deem fit, for giving effect to the provisions of this Act and it shall be the duty of the University, to comply with such directions.