The delay in the appointment of vice-chancellors (VCs) in three central universities has brought development work in the institutions to a halt.

There have been no regular VCs for over a year at the English and Foreign Language University (Eflu) and Pondicherry University while the chair at the Wardha-based Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (MGAHV) remains vacant for nearly a year now.

Several faculty members of these universities have alleged that the institutions have suffered because of a lack of regular VCs. A vice-chancellor of a central university said that when there is no regular VC, the in-charge vice-chancellors do not risk taking any major decision like recruiting faculty members or undertaking any development work.

“The in-charge VC, as the name suggests, only discharges the routine responsibility of a VC. They do not prefer to initiate any major project or undertake recruitments. The government is supposed to start the appointment process of a regular VC six months before the completion of the tenure of the incumbent,” he said.

Gurmeet Singh, appointed the VC of Pondicherry University in 2017 for five years, was granted a year’s extension in 2022. He completed the extended term in November 2023 and since then R. Tharanikkarasu has been serving as the in-charge VC.

In the case of Eflu, Suresh Kumar was appointed the VC in 2017 for five years. He was given extensions twice. He stepped down from the post in January this year when students protested against him after a female student was assaulted on the campus last year.

Rajnees Shukla of the MGAHV resigned from the post in August 2023 over complaints of misconduct. Since then in-charge VCs have been managing the affairs.

The education ministry advertises for the position and conducts the appointment process. A faculty member at a central university said that the government tends to maintain a status quo in administration.

“The present government does not trust people. It wants the same lot to continue and carry out its instructions,” he said.