The Centre has for the second time in six months granted a year’s extension to an outgoing central university vice-chancellor without trying to find a successor, prompting some academics to express fears about a government agenda inimical to academic health.

Compounding their apprehensions, the latest letter of extension — from the education ministry to Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) VC Nageshwar Rao in early March — spells out that the extension comes “with all powers”, according to a university official.

Normally, a VC is given an extension only if the selection process for a new VC fails to throw up any suitable candidate. However, the government has extended Rao’s tenure while entirely skipping the selection process for a successor, just as it had done last September while granting a year’s extension to Pondicherry University VC Gurmeet Singh.

Besides, VCs on extension are usually reminded, from time to time, by letters from the education ministry not to take any policy decision or start regular appointments, a senior academic who asked not to be quoted told The Telegraph.

But the explicit mention of “full powers” in Rao’s extension letter means that, in a break with convention, he can participate in the appointment process for teachers and other staff, among other activities.

The development comes at a time government sources have been saying that the Prime Minister’s Office nowadays takes the final decision —unofficially — on all high-level appointments at central universities. They have said that many positions of VC have remained vacant for long periods because the PMO was unable to find ideologically compatible candidates.

“In Ignou, the process of appointing faculty members has begun. A VC with full powers can preside over the selection panels and carry forward the appointments. That seems the government’s intention,” the senior academic said.

Rao’s one-year extension will start after his current tenure ends on July 25 this year.

“This means that when the extension was granted in early March, the ministry had more than four months’ time left to advertise the post and select a new VC. That’s enough time but the government did not go for it,” the senior academic said.

Abdul Wahid, former VC of Kashmir University and the Central University of Kashmir, said: “The decision to continue with the same person gives the impression that the government feels there can be no better candidate than the incumbent VC.”

He added: “New leadership tends to bring a new vision, which can help an institution grow. Extensions should be avoided as far as possible.”

Singh’s tenure was to end on November 23 last year but he was granted a year’s extension in September.