For the University Grants Commission (UGC), Bharathiar University and Bharathidasan University are one and the same. At least that is what we are given to understand from its website.

A click on the Url link given for Bharathiar University in Coimbatore in the Tamil Nadu universities section will take you to Bharathidasan University in Tiruchy. If this is so, the Url of Alagappa University in Karaikudi doesn’t take you anywhere. It cannot be opened at all, for the Url link provided by the UGC itself is wrong.

Unfortunately, the list of bloomers in the website of the monitoring body for all educational institutions in the country is long and unending. And, it seems to be unattended for long if one goes by who the vice-chancellors for these varsities presently are. Sample this: Dr G James Pitchai, according to UGC website, is the current V-C.

Pitchai’s tenure ended in September 2015 following which a search committee was formed and incumbent Dr A Ganapathi took over as V-C in March 2016. Likewise, the varsity’s registrar’s name is given as Prof E Ramganesh, whereas Dr B Vanitha is the registrar currently.

The details of almost every other varsity in TN are incorrect. Prof R Thandavan is the V-C of Madras University, says the UGC website. Prof. P Duraisamy was appointed as V-C for a term of 3 years in May last, after a 15-month void. However, his predecessor’s name still shows up on the UGC website. There is no updation with regard to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) in Tirunelveli too. Its previous V-C A K Kumaraguru’s name is not yet removed and replaced with incumbent Dr K Basker. The Url provided for MSU is also wrong.

What is even worse is UGC ‘s ‘ignorance’ about the vice-chancellorship of Tamil University. While G Bhaskaran is heading the varsity, its website says NA against V-C, which otherwise means V-C is not available.

Academicians are unhappy about the way UGC is working, as it remains headless for months now. “With no chairman, vice-chairman and secretary, the staff there do only routine work. It is more like a clerical office. When 3 vital positions are vacant, poor maintenance of the site does not come as a surprise. It is unfortunate that the UGC which has a good strength with at least 20 staff in each of the 17 bureaus is left to wither. There is talk that it would be dismantled and merged with AICTE,” rues an official attached to UGC.

Another academician asks when the centre is boasting of digital India, won’t the error-filled website of a premier 62-year-old education body like UGC send a wrong message to students.