In a welcome move, Anna University has written to the principals of all affiliated institutions directing them to not confiscate the original certificates of the faculty members working in their respective colleges. "Only copies of the original certificates alone have to be maintained in the college," the varsity said in a letter on Saturday. The direction is an offshoot of recent communication from the Higher Education Department said that Sree Sastha Institute of Engineering and Technology, "is clearly found to be guilty" in the death of T Vasanthavannan, a faculty from the institution who killed himself alleging intimidation and harassment on part of the college by withholding all his original certificates when he wanted to resign.
The department further said, that even as the case was legally closed by the police, "They (college management) may duly be warned by the authorities and if necessary, some strict disciplinary or penal actions may be initiated against them."
After over two years of inquiry and investigation, the department, earlier this month, had asked competent authorities like the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Anna University to ensure that private affiliated colleges do not confiscate teachers original certificates in a bid to retain them forcefully. "The process of recruitment, appointment order post recruitment with the due fixation of salary alongside the rules and regulations of the management, should all be ensured for maximum transparency," the department said adding that the faculties of private colleges should be allowed to attend some periodic "de-stressing programmes like yoga etc, for their own betterment and towards that of students as well."
Following this communication, Anna University has directed all its affiliated institutions to return the original documents after recruitment, and maintain mandated staff-student ratio and assign proper work schedule and ensure facilities as per the norms for faculty members.
